A 67-year-old man drowned after waist-high flood waters produced by Tropical Storm Ian engulfed his New Smyrna home.
According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the man, who has not been identified, fell and was unable to escape rising floodwaters in his home on Thursday evening.
Deputies responded to the home at 1994 Lake Drive in New Smyrna beach at around 10:30 p.m., as the area was inaccessible by standard patrol vehicles due to waist-high water levels in the neighborhood.
The 67-year-old man and his wife were on a list to be rescued by high-water crews, but fell inside the home and could not get up before the water level rose above him.
Rescuers that arrived on the scene performed life-saving measures but were unable to revive the man. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. The man’s wife and his three dogs were taken to a storm shelter after the incident.
The death came just one day after another man was killed while trying to drain his pool during Hurricane Ian.