Officials: Divers continue recovery effort for missing swimmer in Ridgefield

Ridgefield Fire Chief Jerry Myers says the search for the victim moved from a rescue to a recovery effort after around an hour.

News 12 Staff

Aug 16, 2023, 4:59 PM

Updated 498 days ago

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Divers are still trying to recover the body of a New Fairfield man who went missing Monday while swimming at a lake in Ridgefield.
First responders were initially called to Lake Naraneka near Pierrepont State Park just before 5 p.m., according to authorities. Ridgefield Fire Chief Jerry Myers says the victim entered the water from a home along the lake and had been swimming with a friend.
"One person noticed his partner was no longer with him, came into the shore, and called 911,” he said.
Myers says the search for the victim moved from a rescue to a recovery effort after around an hour.
Since then, divers from multiple state and local agencies have been called in to assist. Myers says the effort has been challenging.
"The water is very shallow and thick. There is compact weed growth at the bottom,” he said.
First Selectman Rudy Marconi has offered his condolences to the victim’s family.
"Anything they need, anything we can do to assist, we're here to help,” he said.
Marconi also stated that he wants to work with the state to spread the word about the potential dangers of swimming in the area.