Authorities ID 35-year-old Illinois man who drowned in Geneva Lake
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A 35-year-old man drowned in Geneva Lake on Sunday, June 21, according to authorities. Officials identified the victim as Kostyantyn Matushevskiy of Wheeling, Illinois.
Geneva Lake Police say they were called to the area near the public beach for a missing swimmer around 6:40 p.m.
“We were at home, we live a few blocks away and we just heard you know, a ton of sirens, which isn’t unusual because we live not far off of Highway 50, but just lots and lots of sirens,” said Kim Gallagher of Lake Geneva.
Emergency crews are responding to an incident in Lake Geneva. Divers are now getting into the water. Several water safety patrol boats are responding as well as ambulances. Dozens of people are gathering in the park watching. @CBS58pic.twitter.com/zsizBGZJrP
— Emily Thornton (@EmilyThorntonTV) June 22, 2020
Still a very active scene in Lake Geneva. Several departments have responded with boats. A drone is now also being used. @CBS58pic.twitter.com/FXrgjksJXD
— Emily Thornton (@EmilyThorntonTV) June 22, 2020
Authorities say a witness and the victim attempted to swim to shore from their boat moored around 75-100 yards out.
The witness got to shore and couldn't find the victim. After searching the water, two nearby bars and their boat, the victim was still missing. Authorities were then called. Several different departments responded with rescue boats, divers and a drone.
“I went down to the pier and I saw over at the beach it was filled, all the boats were in the water and there were sirens and there were all kinds of emergency vehicles on the road,” Lake Geneva resident, Ruth said. “I came down here [to the lakefront] and there were hundreds of people here just lined up and then we just waited for them to find the person.”
The victim was eventually located underwater around 50 yards from shore with the help of the drone.
The victim is from Illinois.
An investigation into the drowning is ongoing.