Drowning Of Lake Forest Wakesurfer Ruled Accidental

STEUBEN COUNTY, IN — The death of a Lake Forest man who drowned Thursday on Clear Lake was ruled an accident, the Steuben County coroner announced Tuesday.

John Adams, 20, went underwater shortly before 6:45 p.m. while wakesurfing in the east bay area of the small lake near the Michigan border, according to local reports. Search efforts were suspended around 10 p.m. and resumed Saturday morning.

Clear Lake was unusually quiet during the search, according to the Herald Republican. Its yacht club cancelled weekly sailboat races, the marina boat ramp was closed and residents and visitors were asked to steer clear of the area of search operations.

After more than two days of searching, Indiana Department of Natural Resources conservation officers discovered Adams 56 feet below the surface using sonar equipment mounted on a remotely operated vehicle before a diver retrieved his body, WTVB-AM reported.

Coroner William Harter said recovery efforts were hampered by foliage in the lake, according to the Journal Gazette. Toxicology tests will not be available for two to three weeks.

Steuben County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Michael Meeks confirmed Adams was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident, according to the paper.

State conservation officers were assisted by the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department, the Steuben County Underwater Recovery and Rescue Team, the Angola and Fremont fire departments, Fremont and Clear Lake police departments and Steuben County EMS, according to multiple reports.

"On behalf of Rich and Kristy Adams and their entire family a heartfelt thank you to all the Clear Lake residents," Molly Wehrenberg, a member of the town council, said Saturday in a post on a local bulletin board. "The family is extremely grateful for everything that is being done. Words cannot express their gratitude for all the support and the efforts of the first responders and the entire lake Community."

More than 100 family and friends gathered at at the lake Saturday to honor Adams in a candlelight vigil, according to the Herald Republican.

"One thing that is so special about Clear Lake is the community," on attendee told the paper. "It’s important because when things like this occur, we gather to show our support."

Adams was a member of the 2017 class at Lake Forest High School, where he was named to the Illinois All-State lacrosse team his senior year before attending the College of Charleston, according to an obituary. A memorial service in Lake Forest has been scheduled for July 11.