Springfield Man Dies After Water Rescue Attempt

Authorities have identified the man who died following a water rescue attempt Tuesday afternoon at Lake Springfield as 34-year-old Averill McDonald of Springfield, according to Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon.

Emergency responders were dispatched to the 400 block of East Lake Shore Drive after reports of a person in the water. The Springfield Fire Department’s dive team, utilizing newly acquired RAPID DIVE equipment, was able to get a diver in the water within 10 minutes.

McDonald was located and pulled from the lake, and medical aid was provided at the scene.

He was transported by EMS to the emergency room at HSHS St. John’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:43 p.m.

An autopsy was performed on Wednesday. Preliminary findings are consistent with drowning, according to Allmon. The incident remains under investigation by the Sangamon County Coroner’s Office and the Springfield Police Department.