CHICAGO —A fire department diver looking for a man who fell off a boat into the Chicago River on Monday night was separated from his partner underwater and was killed.
The Chicago Fire Department said that its “prayers go out to the family of Firefighter Juan Bucio.” It said on Twitter that Bucio “tragically passed away answering a call of a person in the water.”
The entire Chicago Fire Department's prayers go out to the family of Firefighter Juan Bucio who tragically passed away answering a call of a person in the water near 2600 S. Ashland.
— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) May 29, 2018
A piece of Chicago was lost tonight – a hero who dedicated and ultimately gave his life attempting to save others. On behalf of the entire Police Department, our deepest sympathies for our brothers & sisters at the Chicago Fire Department and the family of fallen CFD diver. -ETJ pic.twitter.com/REkSZg6XXV
— Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) May 29, 2018
The man fell off the boat around 8 p.m. Monday, police said. The man has been identified as 28-year-old Alberto Lopez.
DEVELOPING: Missing boater in #Chicago River identified by friend as 28yo Alberto Lopez. @Chicago_Police search resuming soon. @WGNMorningNews pic.twitter.com/VxuNEsKVlk
— Nancy Loo (@NancyLoo) May 29, 2018
Bucio was killed and two other divers were injured while searching for Lopez in the river, which flows through downtown Chicago.
Bucio was in the water with a dive partner when the partner lost contact with him, fire Commissioner Jose Santiago said.
“During the search, one of our divers became separated,” he said. “Immediate search started with the backup divers.”
Bucio was pulled from the water and later was pronounced dead at a hospital, Santiago said.
As of early Tuesday, Lopez was still missing. The search is scheduled to resume Tuesday morning.
The two other divers were hospitalized briefly.
Bucio, who was 46 years old, joined the Chicago Fire Department in 2003 and became a member of its dive team in 2007. He had two children, sons ages 7 and 9. He also had nine siblings, including a brother at the fire department and a sister at the police department, Santiago said.
“Please,” Santiago said, “keep this family in your prayers.”
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