Bridgeport Man Dead After Being Pulled From Lake Mohegan

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A Bridgeport man died Sunday after he was pulled from Lake Mohegan in Fairfield, according to police. Geovanny Tapia-Zuniga, 33, was pronounced dead just after 8 p.m., police stated in a news release.

The drowning was reported about 6:45 p.m. Sunday, when multiple 911 calls came in about a swimmer in distress at the lake at 880 Morehouse Highway, according to fire officials. Witnesses told responders that Tapia-Zuniga was swimming on the west side of the beach, just beyond the swim ropes, police stated. Another witness saw Tapia-Zuniga struggling in the water, and then submerged. A number of bystanders and family members tried to bring him to shore, but could not keep him above water, according to fire officials.

Divers found Tapia-Zuniga underwater about 7:20 p.m., according to a fire department news release, which stated he was "unresponsive." Crews brought Tapia-Zuniga to shore and he was taken to St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, where he was pronounced dead, police stated.

"It appeared that he might've gotten out a little too far, wasn't able to swim and started to panic," said Fairfield Fire Department Lt. Bob Smith.

Smith noted he couldn't speak definitively about what happened, as the cause and manner of death is pending with the chief medical examiner's office.

A relative of Tapia-Zuniga was also taken to a nearby hospital, the news release stated. Smith said the person passed out after becoming emotionally overcome by the situation.

The American Red Cross cautions swimmers that lakes, rivers and streams offer a different environment than a home pool.

"Swimming in natural water environments is more challenging than home pools," the Red Cross website states.

Swimmers should make sure they are capable of swimming in natural water bodies before doing so, and all swimmers should enter shallow or unknown depths feet first and watch out for currents, waves and underwater obstructions, according to the Red Cross website.

For more information about lake swimming safety, visit rdcrss.org/2FiHu1b.