Man Nearly Drowns Rescuing Dog From Largo Park Lake

LARGO, FL -- The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said a man nearly drowned Saturday when he jumped into a lake to rescue his dog.

According to the sheriff's office, Mark V. Payne, 33, of Clearwater, along with family members and their dog, were at Walsingham Park at 12615 102nd Ave. N., in unincorporated Largo at 10:13 a.m. on May 4, preparing to take family photographs when the family dog pulled its leash out of Payne's hands and jumped into a nearby lake.

When Payne went to retrieve the dog, he began struggling and went underwater. He was rescued by his mother-in-law, Roberta Sharman, 48, of St. Petersburg. Payne was unconscious when Sharman brought him to shore. Paramedics from the City of Seminole Fire Rescue Department responded to the scene and transported him to Largo Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

Paramedics then went into the lake to retrieve the dog who was uninjured.