RedactedNarrative: On 07/12/2020 at approximately 9:52AM, I CPO was notified of a boat accident occurring in Fulton County at Banner Marsh SFWA. Initial report suggested the location of the incident to be "West Lake". Upon arrival and receiving additional information from OSF Life Flight and on scene first responders the location was identified as approximately 1/2 mile southeast of Shovel Lake boat ramp near a Banner Marsh Duck Blind. 
  
  Prior to arrival, I was notified OSF Life Flight first responders were on scene and pronounced one of the occupants deceased, with the second occupant/witness on scene. With the location information provided by first responders, I located the Life Flight Air Evac Helicopter near Banner Marsh duck blind #4. From this position, I observed the location of the occupants, survivor and the deceased at a nearby shoreline to the west. CPO, Copperas Creek First Responders, Peoria County Deputy, and myself utilized a watercraft to recover Victim. Upon recovery, Victim was transported by Fulton County Coroner to Oaks-Hines Funeral Home in Canton IL. Coroner made notification of death to next of kin. Fulton County Coroner advised an autopsy will be conducted.
  
  Upon interview, Subject reported he and Victim went fishing at Banner Marsh Shovel Lake at approximately 8:00AM. Subject said he and Victim were bass fishing and trolling slowly at a location on the southeast portion of Shovel Lake. Subject said at the time of the incident the boat was traveling westbound toward a nearby shoreline. 
  
  Subject said he was fishing from the stern platform in an elevated seat and Victim was positioned in a bow mounted elevated seat. Subject said Victim was operating the bow mounted trolling motor at a "very slow trolling speed".  At approximately 9:15AM, Subject said Victim fell off the port side from the bow and was struggling to swim. 
  
  Subject advised he''d not seen Victim fall in but heard what sounded like Victim stumbling over fishing equipment and said "Oh Shit".  Subject said the boat drifted away from Victim''s location in the water. Subject said he attempted to operate the boat with the trolling motor towards Victim in an effort to rescue him from the water. Subject said he attempted to use a pole to try and reach Victim but was unsuccessful. 
  
  Subject said Victim went under the water. At that time, Subject dove in the water off the port side stern of the boat. Subject said he reached Victim''s location and he was unresponsive. Subject said Victim was face down in the water and he attempted to turn him over but struggled. Subject said he struggled to remain afloat but swam by holding Victim''s arm to the location of the boat and grabbed the bow. Subject said he used the trolling motor to maneuver himself, Victim and the boat to the nearby shoreline. At one point in the process, Subject felt his shirt tighten around his body and this pressure made it difficult to breathe. 
  
  Subject said he had to use a multi tool on his belt and had to cut himself free from the motor to continue to shore. After getting to the shoreline, Subject said he pulled Victim on to the bank and called 911 (9:44AM - Peoria County Sheriff''s Office). The autopsy was conducted on July 13, 2020 at Peoria County Coroner''s Office. As a result of the autopsy, reports the cause of death to be drowning, with underlying medical conditions as contributing factors. 
  
  (See attached Autopsy Report and Field Report)
  