Cause Of Death For Man Who Fell In Water At Main Beach: Coroner

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL –The McHenry County Coroner has ruled a 59-year-old Crystal Lake man who fell face first into the water at Main Beach over the weekend died of extensive cardiac disease, according to a preliminary cause of death released Tuesday. Edward B. McCaffery was pulled from the water at the local beach at about 2 p.m. on Sunday. Emergency personnel took him to Centegra Medical Center in Huntley where he was pronounced dead about an hour later, according to a news release from the McHenry County Coroner's Office.

An autopsy performed Tuesday revealed McCaffery died of extensive cardiac disease. It did not appear his death was due to drowning, McHenry County Coroner Anne Majewski said in a news release. A final cause of death is pending additional studies.

The "cardiac incident" occurred after McCaffery had been out windsurfing – "a sport he loved throughout his life," according to his obituary. He was a UAV regional manager for TopCom and is remembered for his quick wit, kind heart and storytelling skills. Besides windsurfing, he also loved to ski and share his time with family and friends.

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He is survived by his wife, Jane McCaffery, and his two children, Alex and Kat.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Sept. 28 at the Burnidge Forest Preserve along Coombs Road in Elgin. A second service will take place in Mason, NH on Oct. 28.

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