Drowning victim reported from Olive Branch retention pond

Olive Branch Police late Monday afternoon reported that a man has died of drowning in the Industrial Complex retention pond at 6750 Legacy Blvd. off Goodman Road.

Police were called to the site shortly after 3:15 p.m. Monday. 

Officers and EMS personnel were able to retrieve the victim from the pond and CPR efforts began on recovery. The victim was taken to Methodist Olive Branch Hospital, but eventually was pronounced dead.  

Late Monday afternoon, a news release from the Michael Hatcher & Associates landscaping company confirmed the victim was one of their employees working at the site.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of one of our employees, who died this afternoon,” CEO Russ Sneed and Founder/Chairman Michael Hatcher said in an internal announcement to employees. “The death is under investigation, and we ask that you please keep our teammate’s family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

The team member is not being identified until his relatives have been notified. 

Sneed and Hatcher said grief counselors will be made available to team members in the coming days. They added that the incident was reported to local authorities as well as to OSHA, and that the company is fully cooperating in the investigation.