Authorities are investigating the Monday drowning of a Hinckley man.
Alexander H. Francis, 39, drowned Monday while swimming in a pond at the Hi-Tide Recreation campground located two miles east of Leland.
“He was apparently just swimming out there with his son,” Illinois Conservation Police Sgt. Hank Frazier said. “Somebody said they saw him appear to go under the water. … He didn’t appear to be struggling.”
Swimmers found Francis shortly after 11 a.m. and pulled him to shore. Francis was transported to Valley West Hospital in Sandwich and pronounced dead.
Frazier said a 15-year-old boy was able to grab hold of Francis’ son – who is about “5 or 6” years old – and get him to safety.
An autopsy performed Tuesday morning by the DeKalb County Coroner showed that Francis drowned.
Authorities are waiting to hear back on a toxicology report, Frazier said, which will take “a few weeks.” There is no indication, Frazier said, that alcohol or another substance played a role in his death.
Calls to the DeKalb County Coroner were not returned Tuesday afternoon.
– Matt Liparota