3 Chicago teens drown in Fox River tragedy

[City Lights]

3 Chicago teens drown in Fox River tragedy
November 14, 2008 at 7:32 AM

Three Chicago teens drowned this morning in the Fox River in Algonquin, after one of their paddleboats sank. Authorities said the boat's bottom plug had been removed to take it out of service for the winter.

One body was recovered and officials said sonar has located the other two about 30 feet off-shore but they have not yet been recovered.

The three teens, two seniors and a junior, were students at North Lawndale College Prep, a charter high school at 1615 S. Christiana Ave., on the last day of an eight-day leadership retreat at Camp Algonquin, 1889 Cary Road, said Julie Didier, a spokeswoman for the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District.

Authorities said two of the teens took a boat on the river, but the craft quickly sank as it took on water. One other boy on the shore swam into the river to try a rescue, but he soon went under too.

Teens on the retreat had taken out six paddleboats on the river, all of which had been "winterized,"
meaning that their bottom plugs removed to take them out of service for the winter, Didier said.

Fire Department officials said they found all six boats scattered along the banks. Investigators are still determining how many teens went out on the river.

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[cobalt1999]

1. Swimming lessons parents, take the kids to swimming lessons.

Sad story.