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Police: Homeless man may have drowned in retention pond in St. Pete

 
Published May 7, 2015

ST. PETERSBURG — Police fear a man who took a swim in a retention pond Wednesday night has drowned.

Rescue workers halted their search when the visibility became too poor. They plan to resume Thursday morning.

A 45-year-old transient man stripped off some of his clothing and waded into the pond because he wanted to go for a swim, authorities said. Swimming is forbidden at the pond by 28th Avenue N and 35th Street near the Save-A-Lot Store, but a friend of the possible victim told police the two men swam there on occasion.

Emergency personnel responded to the scene at about 7:45 p.m. By about 9:45 p.m., visibility in the 10- to 12-foot deep pond was near zero, Lt. Steve Lawrence of the St. Petersburg Fire Rescue said. Conditions were becoming dangerous for the dive team on scene, who risked entanglement in the murky water filled with construction debris of unknown origin.

"We're not going to put the divers at any risk," Lawrence said. "Even with their search lights and their helmets, they're not able to see more than 6 to 12 inches in front of their face."