Hunter who fell through ice on metro-east pond presumed drowned, authorities say

UPDATE 1/27/26: This article was updated with new information Tuesday.

Dive teams on Tuesday morning resumed a search for a 23-year-old waterfowl hunter who fell through the ice on a pond southwest of New Baden on Monday afternoon, authorities said.

First responders ended their search effort Monday night because of the frigid conditions, the New Baden Fire Department announced in a news release.

Illinois Conservation Police officers were called to St. Clair County to investigate the apparent drowning of a 23-year-old waterfowl hunter who “broke through the ice on a lake near New Baden and did not resurface,” the Illinois Department of Natural Resources said in a statement Tuesday.

The man, whose name has not been released, was trying to rescue a dog at the time he fell through the ice, according to St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency Director Herb Simmons. The dog was able to make it to shore safely.

“After several hours of search operations, due to extreme cold temperatures, the incident was transitioned from a rescue to a recovery,” the New Baden news release said. “Operations were suspended at approximately 8:40 p.m.”

The pond is in St. Clair County off Renth Road near the intersection of Renth Road and Clinton County Line Road, Simmons said.

New Baden firefighters first received a call for help at about 3:15 p.m. Monday about a man who had fallen through the ice on a pond and they immediately requested assistance from the Swansea Fire Department dive team.

Over a dozen other agencies subsequently responded to assist in the search.

This story was originally published January 26, 2026 at 5:49 PM.