LEESBURG - A man who fell into Tippecanoe Lake, Leesburg, Monday died in a Fort Wayne hospital.
Jackie L. Rhody, 70, of Royal Center, was pronounced dead at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, Tuesday. Officials from the Allen County Coroner's Office contacted the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department Tuesday afternoon to inform them of the death.
Around 1:46 p.m. Monday, a United Parcel Service driver, Chris D. Lee, of Plymouth, was turning around in a parking lot near the Tippy Dance Hall when he saw a person face down in the water.
Rhody was face down in the water with his feet still on the shore when Lee pulled him from the water, started CPR and called 911.
Lee continued CPR until Multi-Township EMS arrived at the scene and continued CPR until they got a pulse.
Rhody was then airlifted to Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, in critical condition.
During the investigation of Rhody's death, officers learned that Rhody was outside mowing the lawn at his lake house when he possibly had a seizure and pushed the mower into the lake.
Rhody previously had been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and that may have been a factor in the fall.
Foul play is not suspected to be a factor in the death.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources conservation officers assisted the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department at the scene.
