MENTOR, Ohio (WOIO) – A woman died Monday after drowning while paddle boarding at Headlands Beach State Park.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) says officers were called out around 5 p.m. Sunday for a person in the water.
According to the ODNR, officers rescued a woman, later identified as Ellen Baker, 27, who had been paddle boarding outside the swimming area.
She was taken to a local hospital for treatment, where she sadly later died.
Baker, an employee of the city of Cleveland, was described as a passionate and principled leader in public real estate by the Slavic Village Development.
“She believed that the built environment should reflect the values, needs, and aspirations of the people who live in it,” the development corporation shared in a note of condolences.
Cleveland officials released the following statement about Baker’s death:
“We are extremely saddened to learn about this tragedy. Ellen was a true leader and friend to many people not just here at City Hall, but also in the community. She came to work with compassion in her heart wanting to help the residents of Cleveland every single day. The City is coordinating grief counseling and other services for fellow employees