Jack Cooper was found dead in a canal near Lehigh Acres, along with a riding mower, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Neighbors said Jack was just helping out the neighborhood when he died.
On Thursday, a somber Joellen Abro left flowers at the spot where her beloved neighbor Jack was found Wednesday. A young boy walking along the canal found him early in the evening and called for help.
“I saw him four hours before he died. He was right outside,” Joellen Abro said.
Abro said Jack was the type of neighbor to help out, trimming the grass with his riding mower for free. That’s just what Jack was doing yesterday before he was found in the canal, the mower on top of him.
On Thursday, a trail of trimmed grass could be seen that was left by the mower before it went in.
Joellen added, she thinks he may have had a medical episode while mowing.
“I think something happened to him health-wise, and he went back and so did the lawnmower,” Joellen said.
Now, all she can remember are her last words to him, just a few hours before he was found.