Rescue Teams Searching for Missing Cleveland Teen Near Power Plant

A busy Miller Road Park became the scene of a water search and rescue of a 17-year-old who went missing in the waters near the GenOn power plant July 31 at approximately 6:45 p.m.

The beach area, known as "the cut" is a popular summer haven for swimmers from the greater Cleveland area.

“He was out in the lake swimming with three other gentlemen,” Avon Lake Police Lt. Duane Streator said. “One of them became troubled and he went to help them.”

A 24-year-old male was taken to St. John West Shore hospital where his condition is unknown.

The swim area is not monitored by life guards.

Avon Lake couple rescues 24-year-old

Allison Digiandomenico and her husband, Kevin Powers, of Avon Lake were in the water on a raft and helped rescue the 24-year-old man.

“His family was yelling, ‘He’s drowning, he’s drowning,’” Digiandomenico said of the 24-year-old, whose name was not released.

The couple got the man on the raft and pulled him out.

“He could barely walk,” Powers said. The man was eventually able to walk to the rescue vehicle.

The rescued man told the couple the missing 17-year-old was his cousin who had gone in to save him.

“We saw him go under,” Digiandomenico said.

The couple said the rescued man told them “the bottom dropped.”

Streator said the men were all from Cleveland and arrived about 5:30 p.m. Sunday. He said the men were in an area that was not designated for swimming and confirmed the area has a steep drop off.

The Lorain County Dive Team, the U.S. Coast Guard and Avon Lake Police and Fire Departments were assisting with locating the missing swimmer. The Coast Guard helicopter made repeated sweeps of the area until nightfall.

Miller Road Park, which includes a summer concert series and a boat launch is a popular spot on summer nights.

History of drownings at park

In 2009, a 62-year-old East Cleveland man drowned. In 2007 three men in two separate instances drowned at the park.