Man  drowns in GOTL park

GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE — A 20-year-old Florida man died early Monday evening after being pulled from the water at Geneva State Park on Monday afternoon.

Brandon Alves, 20, of New Port Richey, Florida, was pronounced dead at 6:01 p.m. after trying to swim across the channel at the mouth of Geneva State Park Marina harbor, said Ashtabula County Coroner’s Investigator Tom Despenes.

He said Alves was swimming with his girlfriend, who lives in the Madison area, and about two thirds of the way across went under several times and was not able to continue swimming.

Despenes said the woman was following him and made it to the other side and called for help. Northeast Ambulance District worked on Alves before he was pronounced dead at UH Geneva Medical Center.

Despenses said it appears to be a “tragic accident,” but the body was sent to the Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office for an autopsy.

According to Geneva-on-the-Lake Fire Chief Tim Mills, while the woman had difficulty getting Alves out of the water, other observers saw what was happening and called 911.

At about 4:25 p.m. the Ashtabula County Water Rescue team was dispatched and units arrived at the scene less than 10 minutes later. Mills said the Ashtabula County Water Rescue team, which consists of Geneva-on-the-Lake, Geneva, Saybrook, Rome and other departments, as well as the Coast Guard, Northwest Ambulance District and Ohio Department of Natural Resources were involved in the rescue attempt.

“We got them both out of the water not long after deploying and the woman was alive,” he said. “Both were sent to UHGMC in Geneva.”

Mills said the woman was conscious when sent to the hospital.