HILLSBORO, Ohio – A 16-year-old girl saved her brother’s life on Tuesday night after the pair fell into the ice that covered Rocky Fork Lake east of Cincinnati, Ohio. Tragically, emergency responders couldn’t save hers.
The 13-year-old boy was freezing and calling for help when a worker found him around 6:30 pm EST, according to Lieutenant Branden Jackman, of the Paint Creek Fire and EMS Department.
His department responded, flanked by teams from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and dive teams trained to perform ice rescue.
They recovered the girl’s body at about 11 pm EST, Jackman said.
The boy was hospitalized with hypothermia at the Highland District Hospital.
“After the fact, it turned out that she got him out before she succumbed,” said Jackman. “Don’t go on the ice. This caused a very bad tragedy last night. “
The girl’s identity had not been made public on Wednesday night. Jackman said the tragedy should remind people not to risk their lives walking on frozen bodies of water.
“You look at the water and think, ‘Oh, it’s just water,'” he said. “Water at thirty-six degrees is no different than a fire in a three-story home. Both will kill you just as quickly. “
ODNR officer Jason Lagore suffered a “medical emergency” at the scene during the early stages of the rescue, according to department spokeswoman Stephanie O’Grady.
Rescuers transported Lagore to the Highland District Hospital, but he was not resurrected. Lagore had worked for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for 15 years and was known for his experience with K-9s.
READ ABOUT IT: The ODNR officer who died at the drowning scene was a K-9 expert, 15-year veteran
The Highland County Sheriff’s Office is assisting the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in investigating the incident.
This story was originally published by Abby Dawn at WCPO.