CLEAR LAKE – A person enjoying Clear Lake spotted a body in the water yesterday, and authorities used a drone to confirm the tragic outcome and then set about retrieval of the Northern Iowa man’s remains.
On December 28, 2024, at 4:27 PM, Cerro Gordo county deputies responded to North Shore Drive and East Lake Street near the lake’s aerator. A sportsman reported seeing what was thought to be a body floating in this area.
A drone was used to check the open water and this report was confirmed. Fire crews from Clear Lake and Ventura fire department then recovered the body. The male was later identified as 59-year-old Bradley Church of Joice, Iowa.
This incident remains under investigation by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office.
Police say no foul play is expected; police called the incident an accidental drowning.
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Clear Lake Fire Department, Ventura Fire Department, Iowa Department Of Natural Resource and the Clear Lake Police Department.