FOX LAKE, Ill. (WLS) — A tragedy struck Monday night as a 15-year-old boy from the northern suburbs drowned in the Chain O’Lakes.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office has identified the young victim as Brayan Monzanga, who was from Round Lake.
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According to Chief Christopher Covelli of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the teen either leapt from a boat or accidentally fell into the waters of Myers Bay, a section of Pistakee Lake, and did not reappear.
Despite valiant attempts by his friends, who dove in after him, their efforts to locate him proved unsuccessful.
At around 6 p.m., a 911 call was made, prompting emergency responders to quickly arrive at the scene near Fox Lake in the northern suburbs.
Divers and search teams conducted what they hoped would be a rescue operation – before the search shifted to a recovery.
The missing teen was found nearly two hours later by an underwater drone-device. He was not wearing a life jacket.
“Just recreational swimming on the water, went into the water and never came back up. At that point, we were contacted via 911 and started our operations and response,” Fox Lake Fire Deputy Chief Samuel Santiago said. “This is a great location to come bring your families and that’s what they were just trying to do. So just from that aspect, from the organization to the family, we’re very sorry for your loss.”
The incident remains under investigation by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police and the Lake County Coroner’s Office.
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