Man Drowns in Fairfield's Lake Mohegan

UPDATE, 4:35 p.m.: Fairfield Police have identified the victim as Frank Mazzabufi, 39, of Shelton.

 

 

FAIRFIELD, Conn.—A local man died Thursday morning during a drowning incident at Fairfield’s Lake Mohegan. Police say the victim was a man in his 30s, but have not yet officially released his identity.  

Witnesses say the man was fishing on the lake, and went into the water about 100 yards from the beach at about 10 a.m. Thursday.  After he began struggling, lifeguards rushed out to attempt to bring him in, but he disappeared below the lake’s surface before they could reach him.

“I have to credit the lifeguards,” said Deputy Fire Chief Arthur Reid. “They gave a tremendous effort to save this person. They were out there within minutes. Unfortunately, he was quite a distance out, so it did take a while to get there.”

Six divers from the Fairfield, Bridgeport, Trumbull and Westport Police and Fire Departments  scoured the water for the missing man. They finally found him within 20 feet of the spot where he was last seen, in an area where there is a sudden drop-off in depth. Emergency responders were unable to revive him when they pulled his ashore.

This is the second drowning death in Fairfield’s waters this summer. A 77-year-old woman was rescued from at Penfield Beach during an incident in July. Though she was alive when Department of Public Works employees pulled her out of the water, she died from her injuries a few days later.

Fairfield Police Chief Gary MacNamera warns residents to stay in designated swimming areas and to listen to lifeguards when diving into the water. “Any body of water is unpredictable,” he said. “Everybody near the water should really have a good understanding of their limitations, and a knowledge of the currents of the body of water that they’re in.”

Recreation Director Gerald Lombardo said Lake Mohegan will reopen once emergency responders clear the scene. “We’re going to get back to normal” he said.

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CORRECTION: The story originally reported that the victim was swimming in the lake. The story was corrected after a witness informed us he had been fishing at the time.

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