Turning Tragedy to Triumph: Drowning victim honored with donation to Rescue Squad

Nita Johnson, The Sentinel Echo, London, Ky.
·2 min read

May 22—His love of life, his love of pulling pranks, his love of people.

That is how family and friends remember Jason McVey of Mt. Sterling, KY, who drowned last year in a boating outing on Laurel Lake.

But they channeled their grief and created gratitude for the personnel who searched diligently for McVey's body by collecting money and donating nearly $60,000 to the London Laurel Rescue Squad.

On Friday evening, McVey's memory and the generous contribution was recognized with a special ceremony at the London Laurel Rescue Squad.

Chief John Allen told McVey's family that their contribution allowed for the purchase of new sonar equipment that will enhance their underwater search skills.

"I hope we never have to use this except for training," he told McVey's family. "Thanks to you, if we ever do need it, we have it."

The equipment was unveiled before McVey's mother and other family and friends with Allen explaining the impact of how the new equipment will enhance search procedures.

McVey's name is printed on a small plaque on the equipment — a living memorial to his life and the love of friends and family.

Some of McVey's friends spoke about the efficiency and dedication of emergency personnel assisting on the search.

McVey was with friends on Laurel Lake on July 1, 2023 when he jumped in for a swim. When he failed to surface, however, his friends conducted a search before calling in rescue squad members to assist.

One of McVey's friends said she found some coincidental irony in the incident. She cited the number 7 as one used frequently in the Bible.

"I think it's odd that Jason was found on the 7th day of the 7th month, on the 7th day of the search," she said. "They had been searching for a week for him and I think it was God's way of showing us that Jason was okay."

Many friends came and went throughout the week-long search, and commended the teams assisting in the search as well as the hospitality of the people in the area.

"We didn't have to pay for a sandwich or food," one man said. "They wouldn't let us. At Holly Bay, they had drinks and food ready for us. This is a very hospitable community — and the whole community is that way."