Man who drowned trying to save cat in Antioch identified

A 46-year-old man who died after he jumped into a north suburban lake to save a cat during a canoe trip Sunday night has been identified.

William Anderson of Ingleside was in a canoe with two other people and a cat on Loon Lake about 7:45 p.m. when the cat jumped into the water and Anderson jumped in after it, according to authorities.

Anderson went under the water and did not resurface, authorities said. His body was recovered at 12:01 a.m. Monday, according to the Lake County sheriff’s office. The cat survived.

Lake County Coroner Dr. Thomas Rudd said an autopsy found Anderson drowned, though toxicology reports will take a few weeks.

The sheriff’s office is investigating along with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.