A worker was found dead inside an underground storm sewer in Illinois one day after he was swept away during a sudden surge of dangerous water.
The man’s body was discovered around 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, in a storm sewer near Washington Street in Downers Grove, village officials said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The grim discovery ended an extensive search that stretched through the night and into the following day.
“The Village’s thoughts are with the crew members, their families and everyone at Vortex Lining Systems during this incredibly difficult time,” officials said.
The worker’s name has not been released out of respect for his family.
The terrifying incident began around 12:50 p.m. Monday, when a Vortex employee flagged down police officers near the 800 block of Curtiss Street and reported that two crew members were trapped beneath the road inside the storm sewer system.
Vortex Lining Systems had been working on a large-diameter pipe rehabilitation project for the village since 2025.
Firefighters immediately launched a technical rescue operation as severe storms pounded the area with heavy rain, high winds and tornado warnings.
At approximately 3:15 p.m., emergency crews managed to rescue one of the trapped workers about 200 feet from where he had entered the sewer.
He was taken to a nearby hospital in good condition.
The second worker remained missing as rapidly moving water and dangerous conditions made it nearly impossible for rescuers to continue searching safely.
By 8:30 p.m., officials announced that the rescue effort had become a recovery operation.
“Current water conditions within the storm sewer make further search efforts extremely dangerous,” the Downers Grove Fire Department said that night.
Crews resumed their efforts once conditions improved and continued searching throughout the night and into Tuesday.
The missing worker was finally located Tuesday evening.
Vortex Companies, the parent company of Vortex Lining Systems, said it was devastated by the loss.
“We are devastated by the loss of our team member following an unexpected major rain event and are doing everything we can to support his family during this incredibly difficult time,” Chief Marketing Officer Bo Sims said.
“We thank rescue crew members and first responders for their tremendous efforts.”
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation into the fatal incident.
A local resident who witnessed the recovery operation said the tragedy was especially heartbreaking because the workers had simply been doing their jobs.
“I feel awful that it happened,” Gina Pekofske told the Daily Herald. “You’re just doing your job.
