Rescue workers Saturday recovered the body of a 78-year-old man who fell through the ice while walking his dogs at Millstone Park in Monmouth County.
NJ State Police and the Millstone Fire Department searched the half-frozen lake off Red Valley Road for a second day on Saturday. Just after 2:30 p.m., it was reported that the victim, identified as Michael Rosen, of Millstone, had been found.
Police were first called to the park at 4:46 p.m. Friday on a report of a dog stuck on the ice. State Troopers and the Millstone Fire Department rescued the dog, then found footprints and dog prints leading onto the ice, state police said.
At the lake’s edge, they found a hat and a jacket, and a fresh break in the ice. Further investigation revealed the man had taken his two dogs onto the ice, state police said.
A dive team was summoned and an NJSP aviation unit flew in to conduct thermal imaging of the lake on Friday night, but the search was called off just after midnight, according to police reports.
Rescue workers resumed the search Saturday morning aided by a drone and recovered the victim Saturday afternoon.
The other dog has not been found, state police said.
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Richard Cowen may be reached at rcowen@njadvancemedia.com.