An investigator with the Allen County Coroners Office, Jamie Sizemore, has confirmed an accidental drowning Sunday afternoon of a man trying to rescue his dog from the Ottawa River.
Several area fire departments pulled the man from the rain-swollen river about a mile away from where he went in. We'll update this story as information becomes available.
Update:
35 year-old Eric Nolte of Lima lost his life while trying to save his dog from the Ottawa River.
The Allen County Coroner's Office says Nolte ran off the Riverwalk and into the water before he was swept away.
A friend was walking with him and was able to reach the dog from the bank of the river to get him out safely.
The victim was found about a mile and a half down the river behind the Shawnee Township Fire Department.
Several departments worked together to recover the body.
The Coroner's Office is urging people to stay on the riverwalk path, especially after heavy rains.
This is the first accidental drowning in the Ottawa River since 2016.
