The Polk County community is mourning the loss of an 18-year-old Eagle Lake resident, Aaron Tillman, who was found deceased after a kayaking incident on Lake McLeod. Authorities initiated a search operation on Sunday afternoon when Tillman went missing, as reported by the Polk County Sheriff's Office. The search came to a somber conclusion when Tillman's body was discovered early Monday morning at around 5:12 a.m., per FOX 13 News.
Following a call concerning a possible drowning or water accident at approximately 3:20 p.m., Polk County Fire Rescue responded to the scene at Lake McLeod in Eagle Lake. Despite efforts throughout the night, the outcome was tragic with the recovery of Tillman's body from the water, according to a statement obtained by ClickOrlando.
The incident unraveled on Sunday evening, as Tillman and a 19-year-old woman were kayaking around 150 yards from the shoreline in waters estimated to be 12 to 15 feet deep. The woman, who had decided to take a swim, surfaced to find Tillman struggling to stay afloat. It is unclear whether Tillman's entry into the water was intentional or accidental. Efforts by the woman and an additional witness to assist Tillman proved unsuccessful when he disappeared beneath the surface of the lake, detailed in a report by WFLA News.
Local agencies, including the sheriff's office, began a search and rescue mission following an initial drowning call around 3:07 p.m. Not only was Tillman's body retrieved, but also his kayak was pulled from the lake, according to a WFLA News.
