Tragic Drowning at Portage Lakes – The community of Akron, Ohio, is grieving the loss of a young boy who tragically drowned at Portage Lakes State Park on Friday.
Emergency services were dispatched following reports of a 6-year-old in the water.
Reports indicate that the child was found deceased several hours later. Local residents quickly formed search teams to assist in locating the boy. The Akron Police Department, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and multiple ambulances were on the scene in response to the incident.
Details of the Incident at Portage Lakes State Park
Authorities were alerted to the situation at Portage Lakes State Park around 5 p.m. The tragic drowning occurred at 5031 Manchester Rd, Akron, OH.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the young boy was playing near the Upper Deck when he wandered off into the woods. His body was later discovered after he had accidentally fallen into the water.
The PLX recovery team, along with water rescue units, the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the boy’s death.
Related Incident: Woman’s Body Found Near Portage Lakes
In a separate incident, a woman’s body was discovered near Portage Lakes in Summit County on Thursday morning. The Coventry Township Fire Department received a call at 6:57 a.m. about a possible body in the water. Responders found the body of a female approximately 10 feet from the shore on the 900 block of Portage Lakes Drive. The woman’s body was retrieved and taken to the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Chief Investigator Gary Guenther identified the woman as Catherine Altizer, a resident of Fig Drive, located less than 200 feet from the lake. She was identified using fingerprints, with no visible injuries or signs of foul play reported. Coventry Fire Chief Adam Rockich confirmed the call regarding the body in the water, which led to the temporary closure of Portage Lakes Drive between Cormany and State Mill roads. These roads, which border the North Reservoir and Long Lake Channel, have since reopened. The Summit County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office are conducting an ongoing investigation into the incident.
