Diver: Grass at bottom of Unity lake possibly contributed to drowning

Divers involved in a 9-hour search for a Unity man, who drowned while swimming late Saturday in a private lake near Pleasant Unity, say grass growing on the lake bottom may have contributed to his death.

“I know at one point one of the boat rescue teams assisting divers at the scene had to help pull out one of our divers who became tangled up. That grass grows pretty thick and is 8 to 10 feet high … it can be really treacherous for swimmers and divers,” said Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department Dive Team Capt. George McFarland.

Patrick A. Takitch, 52, was discovered in the approximately 2-acre lake on property along the 2200 block of Route 130, according to Ken Bacha, Westmoreland County coroner. Authorities were called to the scene about 10:30 p.m. Saturday after Takitch jumped into the lake to swim, but never came out.

Takitch’s youngest daughter, Sarah, 21, said her family was gathered at the private residence with acquaintances and her father was familiar with the water.

“He just swam there on Memorial Day. He was athletic and a very good swimmer. … He had just been to Florida and swam out to a buoy and climbed on it, cutting his hand,” Sarah Takitch said.

“Dad was passionate about everything he did and lived every single day of his life to the fullest,” she said.

McFarland said the Greensburg department’s dive team searched approximately two-thirds of the lake before giving way to the Murrysville Medic One dive team, which found Takitch’s body about 7:45 a.m. Sunday in about 15 feet of water.

McFarland said searchers were also told by witnesses at the scene that Takitch had swam the lake before. He said the lake was constructed only two years ago on the private property.

“We were told that (Takitch) would swim across to a telephone pole on one side of the lake and then back. He apparently got hung up somewhere along the way. I know (the lake grass) hindered our divers as we were crawling on the bottom during the search, it impacted our breathing apparatus, hoses and lights it was so thick,” McFarland said.

“When we came up we had to pull the stuff off,” McFarland said.

The Murrysville team reported on its Facebook page that divers experienced “zero” visibility during the search and the water temperature was 66 degrees.

According to mayoclinic.org, hypothermia can occur when a person’s body temperature falls below 95 degrees.

Sarah Takitch said her father was manager of a Pepsi facility in Youngwood, and had worked at Pepsi for more than 20 years including as operations manager of a facility in McKees Rocks.

Takitch and his wife, Tammy, were married for 26 years. The couple has three children, Lindsay Firestone, and her husband, Kurt; a son, Brandon, 22, and Sarah.

Cause and manner of death were withheld pending an autopsy and toxicology test,which could take several weeks.

Hartman-Graziano Funeral Home in Latrobe is in charge of arrangements.