Elderly man tragically passes away while trying to rescue his beloved dog from icy pond

A 69-year-old man from Indiana tragically lost his life after plunging into a frozen pond while attempting to rescue his cherished dog. Phillip Hoover was pulled from the icy water on Monday afternoon, around 4 p.m., after authorities responded to a private pond in Syracuse, located roughly 145 miles north of Indianapolis.

According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Hoover fell through the ice when trying to save his dog, which had broken through the frozen surface. Emergency responders retrieved him from the water and transported him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officials confirmed the cause of death as accidental drowning. Remarkably, Hoover's dog survived unharmed.

The circumstances surrounding the drowning are under review by the Elkhart County Sheriffs Office, the Indiana DNR, and the Elkhart County Coroners Office. The incident serves as a sobering reminder from the Indiana DNR that no ice should be considered completely safe. They advise testing ice thickness and taking proper precautions when near frozen water bodies.

Hoover spent 47 years working at Smoker Craft and enjoyed woodworking, fishing, grilling, and supporting the Chicago Bears.

Author: Aiden Foster