Sheriff’s deputies, K-9 Dax save man’s life in Ingleside

INGLESIDE – Lake County sheriff’s deputies and K-9 Dax worked together to save the life of a man who had slit his wrists April 19, police said.

About 12:20 a.m., Lake County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a home in the 35800 block of North Hunt Avenue, Ingleside, for a report of a suicidal person, a news release stated.

While responding to the scene, Lake County sheriff’s telecommunicators ascertained that a 37-year-old man had sliced his wrists open and fled from the residence on foot. Learning the man was in immediate need of medical help and mental wellness assistance, sheriff’s deputy John Forlenza and K-9 Dax responded to the scene.

When deputies arrived, they found a large amount of blood in the home, the release stated.

K9 Dax located the man’s scent and tracked out the back door of the home and started initially tracking in a southwest direction. K9 Dax then turned and tracked to the north, directly to a shed in the rear of the property.

Deputy Chase Skrypek opened the door to the shed and found the man inside, unconscious and not breathing. Forlenza and Skrypek carried the man out of the shed and began CPR. Deputy Michael McCarty arrived and assisted with CPR until paramedics arrived.

Just before paramedics arrived, the man began breathing and regained consciousness. The man was taken to an area hospital.

“This is yet another outstanding example of the dedication and devotion our sheriff’s deputies have to the Lake County community,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “The No. 1 priority of everyone working at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office is to always maintain the respect and dignity of every human life. Deputies Forlenza, Skrypek, McCarty and K9 Dax did just that and undoubtedly saved this man’s life.”