Water Emergency: Valley City Pond Drowning, Rescue Response, Ice Safety Warnings

VALLEY CITY, Ohio – A man is dead after a water emergency at a Valley City pond Friday afternoon, prompting local rescue teams to renew urgent warnings about the dangers of frozen ponds and lakes.

Around 2:13 p.m., Valley City firefighters were called to a report of a drowning in a local pond in Liverpool Township, Medina County. When crews arrived, they moved quickly and were able to pull the man from the water within about five minutes.

First responders immediately began emergency medical care at the scene and then transported the man to the emergency room in Brunswick. Despite those efforts, he was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

As of now, officials have not publicly released the man’s name or additional details about how he ended up in the water.

Valley City Fire Chief Andy Baillis expressed condolences to those affected by the tragedy, saying the department’s thoughts are with the man’s family and loved ones during this difficult time. He also thanked neighboring agencies that helped at the scene.

Fire crews from Brunswick Hills and deputies from the Medina County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist Valley City. The Medina County All Hazards Water Rescue Team was also activated to provide specialized support for the water emergency.

How Rescue Teams Handle Frozen-Water Emergencies

In the wake of the drowning, the Medina County All Hazards Water Rescue Team has highlighted how they respond when someone falls into icy water and why it is so important for the public to call 911 rather than trying to stage a rescue themselves.

The team uses a layered, step‑by‑step approach:

• Specialized ice suits: A rescuer may go into the water wearing an insulated, buoyant “Ice Commander” suit designed for cold‑water and ice rescues.
• Underwater search tools: If a victim goes under the surface, crews can deploy a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), essentially a water drone, to help locate and possibly retrieve the person.
• Divers as a last resort: In more complex or prolonged incidents, dive teams may be called in as another layer of response.

Rescue leaders stress that the first and most critical action witnesses can take is to call 911 immediately so local crews and the county’s all‑hazards rescue specialists can be dispatched with the right equipment.

‘No Ice Is Safe Ice’: Officials Emphasize Winter Water Dangers

Following the Valley City pond drowning, fire officials issued a strong reminder about winter ice safety.

They urge residents to stay off the ice on ponds, lakes, and other natural bodies of water, stressing that no ice is truly safe ice. Even when a surface appears solid from the shoreline, thickness and strength can vary dramatically from one spot to another because of changing temperatures, underwater currents, springs, and runoff.

Authorities warn that:

• Ice that “looks” thick may be dangerously thin in areas you cannot see.
• A fall through the ice can turn life‑threatening in minutes due to shock, rapid loss of body heat, and difficulty climbing back onto unstable ice.
• Most bystanders are not equipped with the proper gear or training to safely attempt an ice rescue.

The Valley City Fire Department also issued a specific warning about pets on the ice. If a dog or other animal wanders onto a frozen pond, owners are urged not to chase after them.

Instead, officials recommend:

• Do not go onto the ice yourself.
• Call 911 right away.
• If it’s safe to do so from shore, throw something that floats toward the person or pet — a throw ring, a life jacket, or any object that can help them stay above water — and then wait for trained responders.

Rescue leaders summarize their core advice as: reach if you can from a safe place, throw something that floats, go for help, and call 911 — but don’t go in after them.

A Stark Winter Reminder for Medina County and Beyond

The Valley City pond drowning underscores how quickly a cold‑water incident can become fatal, even when first responders reach a victim within minutes.

As winter continues in Northeast Ohio, local departments are using this tragedy as a reminder for residents to:

• Stay off frozen ponds, rivers, and small lakes.
• Keep children and pets away from ice.
• Call 911 immediately if someone or an animal falls through.

For Valley City and surrounding Medina County communities, the message is clear: when it comes to natural ice, the safest choice is to avoid it entirely — and leave rescues to trained professionals equipped for the job.