An Illinois mother of three drowned after jumping into a river to save her seven-year-old son during a family fishing trip.
Angelina Khalimendik, 31, of Hinsdale, Illinois, entered the Des Plaines River at Independence Grove Forest Preserve near Libertyville just after 7 p.m. On Sunday, according to Lake County officials. Her young son had been swept up by the water while the family was fishing.
Khalimendik, who had taken her three children on the outing while her husband was out of town, managed to help her son reach another family member before she slipped underwater herself. She was pulled from the river by a relative and bystanders before first responders arrived at the scene.
CPR was performed on Khalimendik, but she had already taken in too much water. She was pronounced dead at Advocate Condell Medical Center, according to reports from the scene.
The Lake County Coroner’s office confirmed that Khalimendik’s death was consistent with drowning following examination results. She leaves behind her husband, an 11-year-old daughter, a 9-year-old son, and the 7-year-old son she saved.
Ron Davis, the Lake County Forest Preserves police chief, addressed the tragedy in a statement. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic death in the Des Plaines River near Libertyville on Sunday evening,” he said. “Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
Davis noted that recent weather conditions had made the river particularly dangerous. “We’ve had some very torrential rains the past week, week-and-a-half, so these bodies of water are flooded with not only extra water, but debris, fallen trees, branches, rocks, other things that are under the surface,” he explained.
He added that there was no indication of anything beyond a tragic accident. “There’s nothing to indicate this was anything more than a tragic accident,” Davis said.
Davis also offered guidance for anyone caught in similar circumstances. “If you are swept in the water, remain calm. Try to roll over on your back,” he advised. “Use your arms and your feet as bumpers, pushing away at debris and branches and rocks that may be in your way, and try and get yourself in a position where you look closer to the shoreline, where you’re able to get yourself out or have people help you out safely.”
Khalimendik’s husband returned to the area with their children on Monday so they could show him where the incident occurred, according to reports. The family had been enjoying a routine fishing excursion when the outing turned fatal.
In the viral moment that preceded this outpouring of grief, a mother made the split-second decision to enter dangerous waters to rescue her child, sacrificing her own life in the process. The story has resonated widely as communities across the region and beyond grapple with the devastating cost of the rescue.
The investigation into Khalimendik’s death continues as authorities examine the circumstances surrounding the drowning.