Man dies after going under water in lake
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ST. PAUL, Ind. — An Indianapolis man died after going under water in a lake at a campground in northern Decatur County.
Derick A. Gentry, 19, was swimming with friends Wednesday afternoon at Hidden Paradise Campground in St. Paul when he appeared to be in distress and went under, according to Indiana conservation officers.
Gentry was underwater for about 30 minutes and was found in about 21 feet of water by rescue divers who pulled him to shore. Revival efforts were unsuccessful, conservation officers said.
Decatur County Sheriff's Department received the call of a missing swimmer at about 5:16 p.m. Wednesday. Eyewitnesses recounted that Gentry entered the water after his two friends and made it about 30 feet out before going under, according to the conservation officers.
Friends and bystanders were not able to bring Gentry back to surface. Decatur County Sheriff's Deputy Dave Henderson, who was near the campground at the time of the call, and campground owner Lynn Pahl put on scuba equipment and found Gentry.
Indiana Conservation Officer Andrew Hagerty is investigating. An autopsy is planned for today in Marion County.
Conservation officers are stressing the importance of wearing life jackets as people seek water as a form of recreation in the hot weather conditions. Life jackets provide important floatation that will aid those who may already be tired or overheated before they enter the water, they said.
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