Deep Quarry Lake drowning victim 21 years old from Bartlett
A 21-year-old man died Sunday after falling through the ice on a lake in the DuPage County Forest Preserve's West Branch Forest Preserve near Bartlett.
Leon Gonzalez of Bartlett was walking on the frozen Deep Quarry Lake when he fell through the ice at 4:30 p.m., authorities said. Friends with Gonzalez called 911 when they saw him plunge into the water, DuPage County Forest Preserve spokeswoman Audra Bonnet said.
A friend who attempted to go on the ice to help Gonzalez was stopped by a DuPage County sheriff's deputy, according to the forest preserve.
Forest preserve police were on the scene within minutes, Bonnet said. Police and fire units from Bartlett, Hanover Park, Winfield, Bloomingdale and the DuPage County sheriff's office also responded. Firefighters in protective water rescue suits searched the water for Gonzalez while waiting for dive teams to arrive.
Gonzalez was believed to be underwater for about an hour before he was pulled from the lake by dive team members at 5:39 p.m.
He was taken to Northwestern Medicine's Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, and he was pronounced dead at 6:45 p.m., DuPage County Coroner Rich Jorgensen said.
An autopsy Monday concluded the drowning was accidental. Results from toxicology testing are expected in two to three weeks.
An Addison dive team member, Hanover Park firefighter and DuPage County sheriff's deputy were taken to a hospital for minor injuries suffered during the response.