Tragedy struck in DuPage County as a body was recovered from the Wood Dale/Itasca Reservoir, bringing a grim end to the search for a missing swimmer. According to WGN-TV, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County police found the body around 7:35 p.m. Wednesday during a search by kayak. The name of the individual had not yet been released as authorities were working to confirm the identity.
The victim was reported missing after attempting a swim across the reservoir, where such activities are prohibited. ABC7 Chicago reports that the family identified the man as 52-year-old Hipolito Hernandez, affectionately known as "Polo" to loved ones. Celia Hernandez, his sister, revealed that Polo was a father of five from Bensenville, saying, "He loved to go in ponds. Drink, get in there, you know...We just lost my mother a month and a half ago. He was the main caregiver."
Despite its deceptive depths—reaching up to 40 feet—the reservoir presented an unusually shallow water level of as little as four feet on Wednesday morning, as reported by WGN-TV. This detail underlines the unpredictable and oft-dangerous nature of local bodies of water, particularly those not designated for recreational swimming. The DuPage County Coroner’s Office, helmed by Coroner Judith Lukas, is set to perform further identification and determine the official cause of death while the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County Police continues its investigation.
As the community copes with this loss, the reservoir is expected to resume normal operations on Thursday. The circumstances surrounding Hernandez's decision to swim in the reservoir, a retention area meant to manage stormwater from Salt Creek, remain unclear. Both repercussions for swimming in the unauthorized area and a statement from the police chief about the incident have not been disclosed to the public. The investigation by DuPage County authorities is ongoing, and more information will likely be shared as it becomes available.
