CHICAGO — Ivan Echevarria, an 18-year-old from Aurora, was seeking a better view of Lake Michigan on a stormy day in late February when a "rogue wave" swept him into the lake, officials said.
His body wasn't found until Monday.
On Tuesday, authorities identified Echevarria as the teen who went missing and eventually drowned after falling into the lake near Diversey Harbor on Feb. 25, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. His death has been ruled an accident.
Echevarria was a senior at East Aurora High School and belonged to the chess club, his alma mater said in a Facebook post. Kim Kereluik, a staff member at the school, said Echevarria had an interest in cars and computers and wanted to work in information technology.
"He was a quiet kid but very popular," school counselor Brian Melvin said in the post. "He was a normal high school kid who wanted to be successful. This is very sad that this happened."
The school has known of his death for a while, even if his body wasn't found for more than a month after the accident. A fundraiser for his family was held in Aurora on March 20, according to a Facebook post from the school.
Echevarria drowned after walking out on to a jetty near the mouth of the harbor when a wave swept him into the lake, which had a temperature below freezing, officials said.
His friend tried to help, but couldn't. Four fire department divers, from a helicopter and dive truck, searched the water, but the search was called off that day due to "extreme turbulence" and "no visibility," Fire Department officials said at the time.
Divers tried again to find Echevarria the next day, but could not. His body was found by Marine Unit police early Monday morning, police said.
A classmate of Echevarria's told DNAinfo Chicago on the day of his disappearance that the teen was fun-loving and well liked by his peers.
"He was a really funny guy and did lots of goofy stuff," said the student. "It doesn't surprise me that he came here in the middle of the day but I can't believe he fell over like that."
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
