Water rescue in Ohio
Story and photos by Jim Reardon

Firefighters from Liberty Township Fire Department responded to a call for a van into the water at Sawmill Parkway and Rutherford Road.   Powell Police Officer Kevin Flaharty arrived on the scene first and found three by-standards who had pulled the driver out of the vehicle and onto the roof of the sinking van. The by-standards had initiated CPR and Officer Flaharty jumped into the pond and swam to the van and assisted them in the resuscitation efforts.

 Liberty Township Fire Chief, John Bernans, arrived on the scene and called for additional mutual aid departments.

Fire fighters from Concord, Orange, and Washington Townships assisted Liberty Township.  Liberty Township Fire Fighters moved the victim and by-standards to the shore via their boat and continued life support efforts. The victim was transported to Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus by Concord Township Medics where he was listed in critical condition and later died.