Florida man dies trying to drain pool during Hurricane Ian

As Hurricane Ian made its way across the Southern U.S. on September 29, a 72-year-old Florida man died attempting to drain his pool.

According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, authorities were contacted by the man’s wife after the man went missing when he went outside at around 1 a.m.

While searching for him, deputies found his flashlight and then spotted the man unresponsive in a canal behind his home.

Several deputies pulled the victim from the water and performed CPR until paramedics arrived, but the victim could not be revived. He was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

“The initial investigation indicates the man was using a hose to drain the pool down a hill and into a 30-foot-wide canal, where a steep decline into the water was extremely soft and slippery due to the heavy rain,” a statement from the sheriff’s office said.

Investigators told reporters that the man was using a hose to drain his pool. They believe he fell down the steep incline, landing in the canal. Many believe he was draining the pool to prevent flooding to his home.

As of October 8, at least 119 people have been reported killed by the hurricane in Florida, and by October 10 and 135,100 Floridians were still without power.