Crews Locate Body Of Man Who Fell In Lake

Dave Azooz fell in water after attempting to fix mechanical problem on boat

Emergency crews late Tuesday night recovered the body of a man who apparently drowned while on Lake Marie in far north suburban Antioch.

Family and friends said Dave Azooz, 47, was on the water with his teenaged daughter when the boat had some sort of mechanical problem. Azooz went to the back of the boat, fell into the water, and struggled.

A family member was on the boat and called for help, prompting officials from five surrounding towns to descend on the area.

His body was found after a search lasting several hours along the shoreline near the Sandbar Bar & Grille, at 40870 N. Douglas Rd., at about 11 p.m.

Friends described him as a very good athlete who played a variety of sports. Officials said, however, Azooz was wearing hiking boots and multiple T-shirts that likely made it more difficult for him to swim.

"Dave was an amazing father, a caring husband and a great friend to all," the family said in a statement. "We would like to specially thank all the countless men and women from all the rescue agencies that added in the recovery of Dave."

They said Azooz was a mechanic by profession but loved jet skiing and snow skiing. He had three daughters and one son.

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