MINNEAPOLIS — The body of a man seen struggling in the waters of a pond in Loring Park Sunday night has been recovered.
Hennepin County Sheriff's Office spokesman Andy Skoogman says a diver located the body around 11:30 p.m. with help from sonar. The victim, whose identity has not been released, was taken to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy.
Minneapolis fire crews were called to Loring Park just before 8:30 Sunday night, after someone reported seeing a naked man run in the water and struggle to stay afloat. A responding rescue crew member saw the man go under and not come back up. Because there is no boat launch on the pond, first responders put on their floating "gumby" suits and entered the water with floatation devices in an effort to rescue the man. An inflatable 'rapid response' watercraft was also used.
Robin Smothers, the spokesperson for the Minneapolis Park Board, confirms crews were able to get within five feet of the man before he disappeared underwater and didn't resurface.
Fire officials reached out to the Hennepin County Sheriff’s dive team, whose members soon arrived to take over operations. Minneapolis fire crews were then cleared from the scene.
Smothers said the rescue operations soon shifted to recovery mode, and a sheriff's spokesman said the body was recovered just before 11:30 p.m.
According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Loring Park pond covers five acres and is 16 feet at its deepest point.