Drowning victim identified

By Lillian Kafka

Published: May 22, 2008

Prince William County police identified the 28-year-old man who drowned in Lake Montclair on Wednesday afternoon.

They said Philip Esposito, of 4411 Ashgrove Drive in Montclair, died around 3:30 p.m. when his canoe capsized in the eastern Prince William County lake, said Officer Erika Hernandez, police spokeswoman.

Esposito couldn’t swim and was not wearing a floatation device.

The 44-year-old woman in the boat with Esposito swam to safety, as did a dog that was also in the canoe. They all lived together, police said.

Hernandez said police divers located his body using a scan sonar device provided by Fairfax County police.

The equipment “reads” the bottom of the lake, where waters only reached temperatures of 35 degrees and visibility was zero, officials said on Wednesday.

Hernandez said there wasno sign of foul play, but they are still investigating how the accident occurred.

When the call for an accidental drowning came in on Wednesday, police mobilized helicopters and dive teams to search for the victims. A thunderstorm that rolled into the area later limited their ability to use the helicopters during the search and rescue mission. About two hours after police arrived, they shifted their mission to one of recovery.

Two Prince William police divers removed Esposito’s body from the lake just after 10 a.m. Thursday.

Staff writer Lillian Kafka can be reached at 703-878-8065.