Culpeper

Culpeper

man drowns

in Rock

Mills pond

By Charlie Sphering

Rappahannock News Staff Writer

Alejandro Ramirez, 27, of Culpeper died Sunday after a tragic drowning accident in a pond near Rock Mills Road.

According to the Rappahannock County Sheriff’s Office, a family of three adult males, a female and three children was fishing in the area when Ramirez entered the water.

According to the report, Ramirez was unable to swim well, and neither were any of the family members. When the family called him bade to shore, Ramirez was unable to swim back and sank beneath the murky waters. The accident occurred shortly after 11:00 a.m; he was pronounced dead later that evening.

As the family searched for help, the victim’s brother drove the family’s vehicle to the Q-mart on U& 211, and found RCSO Mark Currence and Deputy Frank Coffey. Another family member flagged down a local woman who was driving past the scene of the accident. The woman has asked that her name not be released for this article.

RCSO officials immediately responded to the scene, where the local rescuer was franticly searching for the victim. Deputy Coffey immediately aided her in the search, and discovered Ramirez an estimated 20 minutes after he sank beneath the water. Coffey reported that the water was very murky and estimated that the pond was 8-10 ft deep.

After Ramirez was pulled out of the water, RCSO officials began emergency CFR on the victim, Washington, Amissville, and Sperryville rescue units arrived in time to take over the recovery process. The victim was transported to Fauquier Hospital in Warrenton.

After Ramirez was taken to the hospital, RCSO officials contacted Maria Rodriquez, a Spanish tutor from Remington, Va. who participated in a conference call to help translate the details of the story