The investigation into how a Chicago Fire Department diver died during a rescue mission continued Wednesday, as authorities comb over video of his last moments to try and figure out what went wrong.
Juan Bucio, 46, was among the first responders called to a report of a person missing in the Chicago River near the 2600 block of South Ashland Avenue at around 8 p.m. Monday night, authorities said.
At some point, Bucio's dive partner looked back and Bucio was gone.
Sources said that by the time rescuers reached him, Bucio was unresponsive. First responders attempted CPR before he was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he later died, officials said.
An autopsy for Bucio is listed as pending, while investigators are now looking at his dive tank and interviewing everyone else who was on that call to the river.
Two other divers were injured in the incident, but were treated and have since been released from the hospital.
On Tuesday, emotional colleagues shared their memories of Bucio, who joined the fire department in 2003, and has been on the dive team since 2007. He is survived by his two sons, ages seven and nine, and nine siblings, including a brother who works for the Chicago Fire Department, and a sister who works for the Chicago Police Department.
"Our kids went to school together," said the CFD's John Metzger. "I feel for them," he continued. "They should know their father always talked about them. That’s what hurts the most."
"He was a great partner in the water, a great rescuer," Deputy District Chief Ron Dorneker said. "I can't say enough about this man as a father, family man, friend, coworker. He was the best."
The search for the missing boater, 28-year-old Alberto Lopez, remains ongoing.
