Warsaw Man 'Critical' After Diving Accident

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Staff Report-

LEESBURG - A Warsaw man is in critical condition after suffering a broken neck in a diving accident early Sunday at Tippecanoe Lake.

Ben I. Bibler, 22, of North CR 175E, Warsaw, reportedly dove off a pier at a North Kalorama Road, Leesburg, residence and did not immediately resurface.

Witnesses told a Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department deputy that Bibler decided to go swimming about 5 a.m. and dove off the pier into about 4 feet of water. When he didn't come back out of the water, witnesses at first thought he was playing a joke on them.

Two of the three people with Bibler got flashlights and began shining them in the water around the pier. Bibler was spotted floating 1 to 2 feet from the pier and was pulled unconscious from the water.

A 911 call reported the incident as a possible drowning and CPR was performed until emergency personnel arrived. Bibler was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital before being transferred to Parkview Memorial Hospital, Fort Wayne.

Police said alcohol is believed to be a factor in the incident. [[In-content Ad]]

LEESBURG - A Warsaw man is in critical condition after suffering a broken neck in a diving accident early Sunday at Tippecanoe Lake.

Ben I. Bibler, 22, of North CR 175E, Warsaw, reportedly dove off a pier at a North Kalorama Road, Leesburg, residence and did not immediately resurface.

Witnesses told a Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department deputy that Bibler decided to go swimming about 5 a.m. and dove off the pier into about 4 feet of water. When he didn't come back out of the water, witnesses at first thought he was playing a joke on them.

Two of the three people with Bibler got flashlights and began shining them in the water around the pier. Bibler was spotted floating 1 to 2 feet from the pier and was pulled unconscious from the water.

A 911 call reported the incident as a possible drowning and CPR was performed until emergency personnel arrived. Bibler was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital before being transferred to Parkview Memorial Hospital, Fort Wayne.

Police said alcohol is believed to be a factor in the incident. [[In-content Ad]]

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