Helicopter, Pilot Assist In Search Of Drowning Victim
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
LEESBURG – Indiana Helicopter, a charter company out of Goshen, donated an hour’s use of one of its helicopters and a pilot to help find the body of a drowning victim in Tippecanoe Lake. The search for Forbes’ body is continuing today. Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Sgt. Chad Hill said that despite the unsuccessful attempt to find the body of John J. Forbes Sr., 70, Chicago, the KCSD, the department’s dive team and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officers appreciated the help. Hill said the lake waters are quite dark, making discovery of the body more difficult. Between the traffic on the lake and the current caused by all the other lakes flowing into Tippecanoe Lake, he said it gets stirred up quite a bit. The lake is over 100 feet deep in some areas. According to the preliminary investigation, Forbes was swimming on Tippecanoe Lake July 8 from a Tri-Toon boat with his wife, son and family friend when he went under the water and never resurfaced. He was not wearing a life jacket at the time of his disappearance, a IDNR press release stated. Kosciusko County Central Dispatch received a 911 call around 5:15 p.m. July 8 about the drowning.
