Indiana DNR: Body of Hebron man recovered from Marina Shores

PORTAGE, Ind. (WISH) — Indiana Department of Natural Resources conservation officers are investigating an incident in which a Hebron, Indiana, man drowned after experiencing an electric shock.

At 11 a.m. Thursday, a conservation officer responded to the Marina Shores (Burns Waterway) after two men entered the water and were electrocuted. One of the men went under the surface and was not immediately recovered.

The investigation revealed an object belonging to a boat owner fell into the water from the “D dock” and began floating away. Gabriel Gonzalez, 21, and his brother, Francis Gonzalez, 23, both of Hebron, were nearby and saw the object.

Gabriel voluntarily entered the water to retrieve the object for its owner. After retrieving the object, he swam toward “D dock” and appeared to have entered a field of electricity before going under the surface. Francis witnessed his brother go under and immediately entered the water in an attempt to rescue him. As Francis swam toward the area, he was affected by the electrified area, but remained on the surface.

A nearby good Samaritan retrieved a throwable floatation device and threw it to Francis, pulling him to safety. Francis was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment and was later released.

Once the water was determined to be safe, divers from the Portage Fire Department entered and recovered Gabriel. Life-saving efforts were immediately applied, and Gabriel was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

With help from a licensed electrician, the likely source of the electricity in the water was determined to be a piece of equipment belonging to a nearby slip holder. All of the docks at the marina were check for electrical in the water, and no additional electrical fields were found at the time.

Due to the ongoing investigation, no additional information regarding the source of the electricity will be released.

After an autopsy by the Porter County Coroner’s Office, Gabriel’s preliminary cause of death was determined to be drowning secondary to electrocution. The manner of death was accidental.

Indiana conservation officers urge the public to never enter the water near any dock with electric power due to the risk of electrocution and drowning.

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