Arlington Heights firefighter found dead in swimming pool

A veteran Arlington Heights firefighter was found dead at the bottom of a swimming pool Sunday afternoon, authorities said.

Donald Swisher, 51, of Wonder Lake, spent some of his off time as a pool maintenance man, said Lake County Coroner Dr. Richard Keller.

On Sunday, Swisher was wearing scuba gear while cleaning a swimming pool at Discovery Day Camp in Indian Creek, near Vernon Hills. At about 1 p.m., Swisher's coworker found the firefighter unresponsive in water 12 feet deep, Keller said.

Authorities rushed Swisher to Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

Deputy Fire Chief Bernie Lyons confirmed that Swisher, a member of the department's technical rescue, hazardous materials response, and water rescue and recovery dive teams, was off duty at the time of his death.

It is not known whether Swisher drowned, had a medical condition, or if a flaw in his diving equipment led to his death, Keller said.

An autopsy to determine the exact cause is scheduled for today.

Swisher, an Arlington Heights firefighter since 1992, was highly regarded in town, Lyons said.

His was a familiar face at block parties, where he spent extra time with local children showing them all of the fire engine's gadgets.

Various residents wrote letters to the fire department praising his professional, caring behavior on his calls, Lyons said.

At the firehouse, Swisher had two roles. Officially, he was the cook, but unofficially, he was the handyman everyone turned to when something needed to be fixed.

"He was really someone that a lot of us looked up to around here and he'll be very much missed by our fire department," Lyons said.

Funeral services were pending Sunday night.