A 19-year-old woman pulled from the Cal-Sag Channel near 131st Street in Alsip on Tuesday has been identified as Tabarak Al Najjar of Crestwood, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner. First responders rushed her to a hospital, where she later died.
Recovery and identification
The Alsip Fire Department and Palos Heights police were called to the channel near 131st Street at about 4:30 p.m., according to ABC7 Chicago. The outlet reported that crews found a 19-year-old woman in the water and transported her to a hospital. ABC7 noted that it was not immediately clear whether the incident involved criminal activity.
Scene and response
Video from NBC Chicago showed emergency crews staging at a nearby boat launch on West Plattner Drive. The station reported that the Alsip Fire Department confirmed it was on scene but declined to provide further details. Footage from NBC's Sky 5 helicopter showed responders working on and near a dock at the launch as crews carried out recovery efforts.
Cal-Sag history
The Cal-Sag Channel has been the site of recoveries before. In a separate case last year, a body was pulled from the channel, as reported by ABC7 Chicago. That history underscores the challenges first responders face along stretches of the South Suburban waterway, where access, currents and limited visibility can complicate rescues and recoveries.
What comes next
The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office will determine the cause and manner of death after any required autopsy and toxicology testing, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. Local police are handling the investigation and had not released additional information as of Wednesday.
