A Murrysville dive team recovered the body of a Confluence man who was submerged in an icy Henry Clay Township pond Monday near his pickup truck, authorities said.
Patrick Keating, 30, was found in the pond along Sickle Ridge Road about 45 feet from where his truck was pulled from the water, said Derrick Gerano, Murrysville Medic One director.
Keating was pronounced dead at 3:40 p.m. Monday by Fayette County Deputy Coroner Mallory Napolillo, and an autopsy was conducted Tuesday, a coroner’s spokeswoman said.
A determination of the cause and nature of Keating’s death awaits the results of the autopsy and toxicology tests.
Keating was last seen Sunday and had been reported missing Monday. His truck was spotted later that day under the ice, state police said.
Seven Murrysville Medic One divers assisted in the search and recovery, Gerano said. The divers first determined that the pickup truck was unoccupied and the truck was removed from the pond by a tow truck.
Because of the low water temperature, Gerano said, the divers could remain in the pond for only 11 minutes at a time.
Gerano said it was unclear when Keating left his vehicle.
Murrysville Medic One dive team assisted the Markleysburg fire department, the Fayette County Swiftwater Team, Fayette EMS and state police in the search and recovery.
Joe Napsha is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joe at 724-836-5252 or jnapsha@tribweb.com.
