Fishing Trip Turns Tragic: Two Indiana Men Drown, Granddaughter Survives

A family fishing outing on an Illinois lake ended in tragedy Sunday when a boat capsized, claiming the lives of two Indiana men and leaving their young granddaughter as the sole survivor.

The incident occurred at the LaSalle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area near Marseille, Illinois, a popular 2,000-acre fishing destination. Illinois Conservation Police responded to reports of a distressed boater just after noon.

Upon arrival, authorities found a capsized 17-foot Crestliner boat and a 7-year-old girl on the shore. The child, who was wearing a life jacket, had been rescued by park visitors who helped her contact family members.

Tragically, the girl's grandfather, a 53-year-old man from Merrillville, Indiana, and her great-grandfather, an 80-year-old man from Gary, Indiana, were not wearing life jackets at the time of the incident. Their bodies were recovered from the water by 7:45 p.m. after an extensive search involving multiple agencies.

The LaSalle County coroner pronounced both men dead at the scene. Officials have not yet released the victims' names pending notification of family members.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of water safety and proper life jacket use while fishing. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is conducting an ongoing investigation into the cause of the capsizing.

As the fishing community mourns this loss, local authorities are emphasizing the need for increased safety measures, especially when fishing with children.