Man Drowns In Lake Geneva Swimming Incident: Police

LAKE GENEVA, WI — A 35-year-old Illinois man drowned Sunday on Geneva Lake in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin after authorities say the man he was swimming with thought he already made it to shore, but could not find him.

The Lake Geneva Police Department were sent to a boat moored about 100 yards offshore near the municipal beach at 6:40 p.m Sunday on a report that a man had gone missing while swimming. The deceased, along with another person, swam from the boat toward the beach two hours earlier, witnesses told police.

The other swimmer told police he went back in the water after reaching shore to look for the Wheeling man, but could not find him. The witness said that he thought the victim may have made it to shore, according to officers.

According to police, the witness looked on the beach and went to two nearby bars looking for him. The witness said that after looking at the bars and on the beach again, he swam back to the boat to look before calling authorities.

The Lake Geneva Fire Department's dive rescue team was dispatched. A MABAS Box Alarm was requested and units from City of Delavan, Town of Delavan, Troy Center, Fontana, Linn, Williams Bay, Whitewater, Sharon, and Elkhorn responded, along with Racine Fire Bells to assist.
The investigation is ongoing pending the results of an autopsy.

The Wheeling man's body was discovered by a police drone under the water, about 50 yards from the shore in 10 feet of water. Dive team members were able to recover the body at around 8:30 p.m.

The identity of the deceased, beyond his age and residence, has not been released until family can be notified. The Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency assisted in the recovery.

Original Reporting by Eric DeGrechie, Patch.