MOUNT VERNON — While social media can be an excellent tool for communication and connection, it can also exacerbate the spread of false information.
On Friday morning, a Mount Vernon woman posted a photo of a man being treated by emergency personnel in the 100 block of Howard Street. In the photo, the man was on a gurney and wrapped in blankets, sparking a rumor that he had been pulled dead from the river.
“He was breathing, had a pulse, he was just very cold,” said Christopher.
McKnight told the News that the man was transferred to Knox Community Hospital to be treated for hypothermia. He was later flown to the Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus for further treatment.
Although the information was false, the post spread quickly with almost 500 shares over a period of about four hours.
First responders were unaware of what circumstances had led the man to be found unconscious. The tip came from a call to the 911 dispatch office.
“I noticed a person who was sleeping or passed out,” the caller said. “Somebody might want to check on it, they looked like maybe they were unwell.”
The incident remains under investigation.
