Indianapolis man apparent drowning victim at Cataract

Monday, August 26, 2013

CLOVERDALE -- Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating the death of a 37-year-old Indianapolis man Sunday afternoon at Cataract Lake in Putnam County.

The victim was identified as Rafael A. Lopez. The incident reportedly occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m.

Witnesses to the incident at the Lieber State Recreation Area beach area reported seeing the man behaving erratically and bobbing up and down in the water near the roped-off section of the beach.

Bystanders brought him to shore and began performing CPR until medical personnel arrived, authorities said.

He was taken by ambulance to Putnam County Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, Conservation Officers said.

The Putnam County Coroner has scheduled an autopsy to be performed at Terre Haute Regional Hospital at 8 a.m. Monday. The cause of death is considered unknown at this time.

Assisting at the scene Sunday were personnel from the Putnam County Sheriff's Department, Cloverdale Fire Department, Putnam County Operation Life and Indiana Conservation Officers.

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I was at the beach and watching as this was happening it was sad, and I pray for his family. I feel sorrow for the family members who were there with him and had to witness it all.

-- Posted by ambermullins1991 on Sun, Aug 25, 2013, at 10:20 PM
Lifeguards yes or no? If not someone has some explaining.

-- Posted by mickhamblen on Mon, Aug 26, 2013, at 2:26 AM
If you cant swim don't go swimming

-- Posted by Apollo13 on Mon, Aug 26, 2013, at 11:38 AM
There does not need to be lifeguards, it is posted, "No lifeguards on duty". There is no explaining AND...people who can swim can also drown, nobody is immune to that. He could have had a heart attack or other medical condition that caused him to drown....man you people are harsh, but then I forget the mentality of the people who comment on here!

-- Posted by clgruener on Mon, Aug 26, 2013, at 2:53 PM
Hello am family rafael lopez how can get to contact to hospital please

-- Posted by Ktracho6 on Mon, Aug 26, 2013, at 7:47 PM
Harsh is the word for it! When people get on here and make ridiculous and/or hateful comments they appear to be uneducated. Check out the facts such as lifeguards on duty or no lifeguards on duty. In case you did not know, there are not always lifeguards stationed at every place where people can swim. Many times there are signs that say swim at your own risk. Many people that drown are good swimmers. As clgruener stated: no one is immune to drowning. Please try to be more sensitive. There are family members that read these articles and see the unnecessary comments. Someday an article might be about you or a close friend or loved one. Please think how you would feel if you got on here and read comments in response to an article like this about someone you are close to. I am not from Greencastle originally but I do live here and it is embarrassing to think of people reading some of the things posted following an article. Enough said.

-- Posted by egb on Thu, Aug 29, 2013, at 11:59 PM

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