LEESBURG – A recently purchased dive boat of the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department helped rescue a man near Leesburg Sunday night.
KCSD deputies responded to the Leesburg gravel pit Sunday at approximately 8:40 p.m. to attempt to locate a despondent male.
Deputies converged at the gravel pit, which contains a large body of water surrounded by secluded trees and foliage.
At approximately 10 p.m., deputies and sheriff’s department dive team members were able to locate the despondent male subject lying on a concealed water bank unconscious.
The 40-year-old male was transported to Kosciusko Community Hospital in serious condition by Multi-Township EMS after an apparent overdose.
Officers were able to use a portable thermal imager while onboard the newly purchased dive boat to locate the victim in the remote area. It was speculated the victim might have possibly died if not located Monday night due to the large amount of ingested medications, according to KCH.
The KCSD dive boat was recently purchased along with a bottom imaging sonar unit due to the generosity of local citizens’ donations.
The project was initiated by a donation from the family of Raymond Leroy Barker Jr., who drown Aug. 7 while fishing on Wyland Lake in the Tri-County Game Preserve in Kosciusko County.
KCSD Public Information Officer Sgt. Chad Hill said the name of the individual will not be released since it was a mental health incident and not a criminal matter per KCH and the KCSD.
