Chicago Firefighter Juan Bucio dies in search for missing boater
CFD was searching for man in Chicago River Monday night
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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.
Fire officials said Bucio was searching for a 28-year-old man who witnesses said they saw jump from a boat into the river. At one point, Bucio lost communication with his dive partner during the rescue attempt, officials said.
Authorities said he was later located and CPR was administered before he was taken in critical condition to Stroger Hospital, where he later died.
“An order was given to switch out divers to bring the second team in, give them a break,” Chicago Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago said at a news conference.
“At that time, they were coming towards the boat. His partner turned around and he was missing, that quick,” Santiago added.
The CFD diver is 46-year-old Juan Bucio. According to the Chicago Fire Department he has two sons, ages seven and nine.
He was pronounced dead at 10:02 p.m.
Bucio joined the Chicago Fire Department in 2003. He became part of the dive team in 2007.
He has nine siblings including a brother with the Chicago Fire Department and a sister with the Chicago Police Department.
Two other divers were released from Northwestern Memorial. One of the divers was Bucio’s partner.
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The entire Chicago Fire Department's prayers go out to the family of Firefighter Juan Bucio who tragically passed away answering a call of a person in the water near 2600 S. Ashland.
— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) May 29, 2018
2 injured members of CFD dive team transported to Northwestern in good condition and 1 critically injured member of the CFD dive team also transported to Stroger. No further information at this time.
— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) May 29, 2018
