May 25--A Chicago man drowned in the Wisconsin River at the Wisconsin Dells on Saturday while trying to swim to shore from a rock island where he had been fishing, according to authorities.
People called 911 to report that a man had gone under the water and didn't resurface while swimming to shore about 7:15 p.m.
This happened in the Lower Dells, a few hundred yards south of the dam, according to a news release from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office.
Family and other witnesses tried to rescue him and emergency crews, including the Columbia County dive team, worked until midnight trying to find him, according to the release.
Crews never found his body. Emergency personnel tried again Sunday morning using side-scanning sonar but weren't successful.
Authorities are withholding the man's name so his family can be notified.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Lake Delton police, Wisconsin Dells police, Kilbourn Fire Department, Lake Delton Fire Department, Alliant Energy, Dells Boat Tours and the Columbia dive team all helped in the search.
