Divers find body of drowning victim

By Elisa Glushefski

Published: May 21, 2008

Divers found the body of an unidentified 28-year-old man after a seven-hour search Wednesday evening in Lake Montclair.

His body was recovered by the Prince William County Police Department's scuba team between 10:20 and 10:30 p.m.

Divers used Fairfax County's new $50,000 Sonar device to search for the missing canoeist, using 3D digitial imaging.

Officials reported lake temperatures of 32 to 35 degrees and zero visibility.

Prince William County Fire and Rescue workers began search and rescue operations after receiving a call at 3:26 p.m. of a possible drowning in the area of the lake behind Spalding Road, a fire department spokesman said.

A resident initially reported seeing two teenage boys in the water and that one had disappeared, said Randy Earl, spokesman for fire and rescue.

Officials later learned that the man was in a canoe with his 44-year-old female landlord and a dog when they capsized, Earl said.

The woman, who shared a Montclair town house with the man, was able to swim to shore, Earl said. The man was a non-swimmer and was not wearing a flotation device.

For several hours a Fairfax County police helicopter hovered over the waters as a rescue team searched below.

At one point, public safety officials had the dam at Lake Montclair closed to ease a current that was hindering rescue efforts.

Rescue operations stopped about two hours after the call came in as personnel moved into search and recover mode, Earl said.

The area where the canoe overturned was marked by a red buoy and was where initial recovery efforts were centered.

A piece of clothing believed to belong to the man was found shortly after the search began.

Staff writer Elisa Glushefski can be reached at 703-878-8062.