Teacher Rescued at Huntington Beach Dies

BAY VILLAGE, Ohio — A teacher who tried to rescue a 9-year-old student who was swept away from the shore at Huntington Beach has died, the Cuyahoga County medical examiner’s office confirmed.

Laura Recco, 46, of Independence, was part of the group from the Positive Education Program in Cleveland that was enjoying an end of school outing in Bay Village on Monday.

Although red flags were posted, signaling the beach was closed, the group waded in the water when Diamond Harris, 9, was pulled farther into the lake.

Recco attempted to reach the child, but she, too, was swept under.

Bay Village Police and Fire received a 911 call for help at 10:44 a.m., 16 minutes before the beach was to open and the lifeguards were to take their positions. 

Several of the guards jumped into action when there were signs of distress.

*Read more on the rescue here.

Everyone made it out of the lake alive, but Recco, Harris and Christian Pesarchick, a lifeguard, were taken to area hospitals.

Harris and Pesarchick were treated and released.

Recco passed away on Wednesday.

An autopsy will be performed.

(Fox 8 News reporter Lorrie Taylor contributed to this report.)