Braidwood authorities find body of fisherman who fell through ice on Shadow Lake
BY BRIAN STANLEY bstanley@stmedianetwork.com January 19, 2013 2:58PM
Maps
Updated: February 21, 2013 6:53AM
BRAIDWOOD -- Police on Saturday morning found a fisherman who apparently drowned after falling through ice on Shadow Lake the day before.
Police Chief Rich Girot said an officer on patrol around 1 a.m. saw a pickup truck parked on the west side of the road but did not see anyone around it.
“He thought it might have broken down, checked the registration but was unable to make contact at his house,” Girot said.
Officers returned to search around the lake, west of Route 129 and south of Coal City Road, but did not find anyone until after daylight.
Officers then discovered that a Braidwood man had fallen through the ice in a heavily wooded area of the lake about 400 yards from the road.
“There was no way to see where he was from the highway. He was wearing a flotation device but just couldn’t get out. This was a tragic accident.”
Girot said fishing equipment was found near the man’s body and said police officers broke through the ice themselves during the search.
Fire Chief Ken Heberer said a dive team was called at 9:57 a.m. to recover the man’s body. The Braidwood resident’s identity was being withheld until family members could be notified.
