Divers search for fisherman

[Lee Borgersen]

Article updated: 2/4/2012 12:02 AM

Divers search for fisherman in Johnsburg, IL lake  By Daily Herald report.
 
A dive team was called to a lake in Johnsburg where an ice fisherman had apparently fallen in Friday night, authorities said.

Their search began after 6 p.m. when a witness reported hearing a man yell for help about 300 yards from the shore at Pistakee Lake. A staging area had been set up near the Bald Knob Marina. The search ended for the evening about 9 p.m. without having located the man, but crews were expected to resume at 8 a.m. Saturday, ABC 7 reported.


 Officials from the McHenry Fire Protection District told ABC 7 that it took a little while to figure out exactly where on the lake the person had been. They said they later recovered ice fishing equipment in an area where they found clothing.

[Lee Borgersen]

3:06 p.m. CST, February 4, 2012 Updated

Body of fisherman recovered from McHenry County, IL lake

 The body of a 29-year-old fisherman was recovered this morning from a lake near northwest suburban Johnsburg after he reportedly fell into the water Friday night.

Justin Ribar of Wonder Lake was pronounced dead at 11:12 a.m., soon after the body was recovered, according to the McHenry County Coroner's office. While an autopsy is scheduled for Monday, officials suspect that he drowned.

Emergency crews were called to 3320 N. Rocky Beach Lane in Johnsburg after a fisherman was reported “yelling for help’’ after possibly falling into Pistakee Lake, according to a McHenry County Sheriff’s police sergeant. The first call came in about 6 p.m. Friday.

The search Friday night centered around Coon Island in the lake, the sergeant said. It was called off about 10 p.m., according to officials with the McHenry Township Fire Protection District.

Divers, crews with sonar and others from several area emergency agencies resumed the search about 8 a.m. today.