Jo Daviess County Sheriff Investigating Child Drowning at Galena’s Chestnut Mountain Resort

A Jo Daviess County resort known for its exciting offerings of skiing, ziplining, an alpine slide, and family fun in Galena had a tragedy occur at the resort this weekend.

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On Friday, February 13th, 2026, shortly after 9 PM, Jo Daviess County Dispatch received a 911 call regarding a possible drowning at Chestnut Mountain Resort in Galena, IL. Jo Daviess County Deputies and Galen Police officers were the first to arrive at the scene.

Upon their arrival, officers determined from present accounts that the juvenile had been swimming in the pool when they lost consciousness. The unconscious juvenile was eventually pulled from the pool by another juvenile before emergency personnel arrived at Chestnut Mountain Resort.

Emergency Medical Services were initiated immediately by the responding officers. According to the police report, continued advanced life-saving measures were performed until the arrival of REACT One AirCare. Despite the continuous life-saving efforts from officials, the juvenile was pronounced deceased on the scene. The child was then transported to Midwest Medical by Elizabeth EMS. It has now been revealed by WCIA.com that the child was a  Rochester High School student named Jack Zucco.

This incident remains under investigation by the Jo Daviess County Sheriff's Office. Other agencies that assisted during the response include: Hannover Fire Department, Chestnut Mountain Ski Patrol, and the Jo Daviess County Coroner.

As no information on the child has yet been released, it is important to note that drowning remains the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 in the United States. For children ages 5 to 14, drowning is the second leading cause of death. According to the CDC, there are a bout 900 drowning deaths each year among juveniles aged 0 to 19.