Man and Woman Drown Sunday in DuPage River Near I-55 and Jefferson St at the Hammel Woods Forest Preserve

Crews searched the DuPage River at Hammel Woods in Shorewood after two people went into the water.

A recovery effort resumed Monday morning April 1, 2019 in the DuPage River just west of I-55 after two people went into the river near a dam in the Hammel Woods Forest Preserve Sunday March 31, 2019 about 6:00 p.m.

Troy FPD firefighters, divers and Will County Sheriff’s deputies initially responded to the the dam just west of I-55 and just north of Jefferson Street about 6:00 p.m. after witnesses called 9-1-1 to report a man went into the water and a woman went in after him.

A Will County Sheriff’s Deputy first on the scene saw the two victims and attempted to rescue them, but was unable reach the victims because of the strength of the river’s current, according to Troy Fire Department Chief Andy Doyle speaking at a press conference Monday.

Chief Doyle said the body of a 28-year-old man was found about 10:00 a.m. Monday, but crews are still searching for the body of a 22-year-old woman.

“The current in the river is running pretty swiftly right now, due to the large amount of rain we’ve had,” according to Chief Doyle.

The Active Water Rescue was activated at 6:44 p.m. and was elevated to a 3rd Alarm by 6:52 p.m. because of the length of the potential travel of the victims in the current of the river. The initial effort was considered a rescue effort, but later became a recovery effort.

The victims have been identified but their identities were not initially released until family members are notified. Crews found the body of the man around 10 a.m. Monday, and are in the process of recovering it, he said.

According to Chief Doyle, initially about 30 fire agencies with 100 rescue personnel, and five law enforcement agencies have been involved in the rescue and recovery operations. The staging area was at the BP gas station at the northwest corner of Jefferson Street and the NW Frontage Road to I-355.

For the recovery about 10 fire agencies with 50 fire and rescue personnel and three law enforcement agencies.

The water is shallow (about 3-4 feet deep) and cold with divers and firefighter personnel working along the river banks. There is no actual diving because the water is shallow, and personnel are working as Swift Water Rescuers. Some personnel are wading in the river, some are in boats zig-zagging the river, and some are Operations command needs to frequently rotate personnel from activity to warming stations to avoid hypothermia and exposure of their personnel.

Wilmington FPD and Wilmington ESDA have boats that are especially made for close approach to dams in turbulent waters.

Fixed wing aircraft and drone units from Illinois State Police were used early in the operation.

The search area covers 2.5 miles, starting at the dam where they went into the water and leading south to near Mound Road. Crews will continue searching until 9 p.m. Monday, according to Chief Doyle.

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