DANBURY, Conn. — The search for two missing swimmers in Candlewood Lake in Danbury was suspended Wednesday evening and is set to resume at 7 a.m. Thursday, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Local and regional dive teams were deployed Tuesday and Wednesday in the scorching summer sun searching for the two men, ages 26 and 38, who went missing late Monday night.
As rescuers peered into the depths of Connecticut's largest lake, a family sat helpless under a shaded tree watching and waiting for word.
“My heart goes out to them,” remarked Danbury resident Mike Methany.
The family is from Danbury and has Ecuadorian roots.
“It is a big surprise,” said Angel Zhicay, the father-in-law of one of the victims, who was speaking in Spanish. “I don’t want to say much. I’m here to find out more details.”
Danbury Fire Chief Richard Thode said first responders were notified around 10:30 p.m. Monday that two people were in the water and may have jumped off a boat near a piece of land known as city island.
A rescue boat was nearby and was able to deploy quickly in response to look for the swimmers, Thode said. The Danbury Police Department's dive team along with other teams from nearby towns like Brookfield and New Fairfield began their search.
“This is a tragedy,” said Thode.
Shortly after the search began, a storm rolled in.
“Weather, darkness and time were working against us,” explained Thode.
Officials had to search through heavy downpours overnight and suspended the search around 2:30 a.m. without finding the swimmers.
Thode said that once the situation became a search and recovery operation, DEEP led the operation due to its jurisdiction over the lake.
“This is no longer a rescue. This is a search operation,” said James Fowler of DEEP.
Rescue crews returned to the 11-mile-long lake at daybreak with a new mission.
“They’re under a lot of heat. A lot of stress. They are putting a lot of work in but we have had tremendous help,” explained Fowler. “They’ve committed to staying out there as long as they can safely stay out there.”
DEEP is pulling in resources from multiple other agencies including drones, sonar imaging and even dogs.
“We have search dogs on boats out there right now sniffing the water surface,” said Fowler.
Officials said they have a good "general" location of where to look in the lake due to a number of eyewitnesses.
It's still unclear what led up to the apparent drownings. As a popular summer recreation destination, Candlewood Lake is notorious for tragedy.
“Unfortunately, there is tragedy when you mix the hot sun and long days. Accidents happen. It only takes a second,” said Methany.
Thode said that the park is open at all hours of the day and that the swimmers were allowed to be out on the water.
The boat launch and town park are closed while the search continues.
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Matt Caron is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at mcaron@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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