CLEVELAND — A child died after going missing in the water and drowning at Portage Lakes State Park, the fire chief for the city of New Franklin said.
According to a press release from Chief Steve Leslie, the fire department was notified of a missing child in the area of the swim beach just after 2:30 p.m. Friday. It was initially believed that the child was not in the water, but fire personnel and volunteers formed a human chain to clear the swim water and search for the child.
The child was found in approximately four feet of water, Leslie said. Emergency personnel attempted to resuscitate the child and transported the child to a hospital in Barberton.
The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the victim as 6-year-old Sebastian Johnson of Barberton.
"Unfortunately, the child did not survive," Leslie said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this time."