116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Solon man dies after being found in pond
Rural Solon man had gone out to do yard work hours earlier Thursday
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An 85-year-old man died Thursday after he was found floating in a pond near his residence in rural Solon.
Douglas Johnson was found unresponsive and floating face down in a pond on Deborah Drive NE just before 6:50 p.m. Thursday. First responders attempted lifesaving measures at the scene. He was transported to Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids by Area Ambulance and was later pronounced dead.
Investigators determined that Johnson went out to trim weeds in his backyard around 3 p.m. When his wife had not seen him after the usual amount of time, she called a neighbor to check on him. The neighbor found Johnson face down in the pond and called 911.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is continuing an investigation in cooperation with the Linn County Medical Examiner. Foul play is not suspected. Additional details were not available Friday.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by crews from the Swisher Fire Department, North Liberty Fire Department, Area Ambulance, and the LifeFlight team.
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