DuPage River Drowning Victims Identified By Coroner

SHOREWOOD, IL — The Will County Coroner's Office has announced the two people recovered on Monday from the DuPage River near Hammel Woods were both drowning victims. The two victims have been identified as 28-year-old Abraham Ramos of Palatine, IL and 22-year-old Hannah Tammeling of Plainfield. Ramos was pronounced dead around 10:45 a.m. on Monday and Tammeling was pronounced dead around 2:10 p.m. Monday.

On Monday morning, Troy Fire Protection District Chief Andy Doyle told reporters that the body of the man was recovered. The woman had remained missing as of 11 a.m. but she was found about three hours later near the Shorewood footbridge.Doyle said authorities still do not know how they wound up in the water or why they were near the dam.

"We believe the male went in first and the female went in after to help," Doyle told reporters at Monday's press conference.

The boyfriend and girlfriend were not boating, officials said.

Doyle also told reporters, "How he got in the water or why he got in the water we don't know."

An area spanning 2.5 miles, from the dam all the way to Mound Road, was being searched on Monday morning, Doyle said. There were at least 50 firefighters and 15 police officers participating in the water recovery efforts.

The three sections being searched for the missing woman's body are from the Hammel Woods dam to West Shore Park, from the park to Seil Road and from Seil Road to Mound Road.

The Illinois State Police also provided one of its fixed wing aircrafts and a couple of drones were also being used, Doyle explained.

"No divers are in the water right now," Doyle said on Monday. "The water here is not deep enough for divers … The water is extremely cold."

Doyle said that the authorities were not divulging the area where the man's body was located, which happened around 10:05 a.m. Monday, because fire and police did not want people flocking to that area.

Doyle said the area where the body was found was probably 3 to 4 feet deep.

This marked the second time within the past five years that Troy Fire has responded to a drowning that occurred at the dam, which is near Route 52 and Route 59 in Shorewood.

"The dam is very dangerous," Doyle stressed. "There's a boil and it keeps turning and turning."

The Troy Fire Protection District is now in charge of the case because the incident has been classified as a recovery effort on the water.

The Will County Forest Preserve informed Patch that both the Route 59 and Crumby access points to Hammel Woods would remain closed on Monday morning as firefighters continue with their efforts to recover the two people who are feared to have drowned. Avoid areas along the DuPage River, particularly Route 52 and Route 59 on Monday, Shorewood Police officials advise motorists. "Area roadways will be congested with emergency vehicles and rescue apparatus," the police cautioned.

Patch will update this story as more information becomes known.