McLean County Coroner Identifies man who drowned in Lake Bloomington

Posted on May 9, 2025

HUDSON, Ill. (WMBD) — McLean County Coroner Kathleen Yoder identified a man who drowned in Lake Bloomington on Thursday.

Ernest F. Lamkey, 77, of Bloomington, died from drowning, according to Yoder’s preliminary autopsy.

The McLean County Sheriff’s Office initially responded to Hudson on a report a man had fallen into Lake Bloomington and could not get out. When deputies arrived, Lamkey was still in the water and appeared unconscious .

The Hudson Fire Department arrived on the scene, pulled him out of the water and began life-saving measures. Lamkey was transported to Carle BroMenn Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 7:23 p.m.

This incident remains under investigation by the sheriff’s and the coroner’s offices.

WMBD TV can be reached at [email protected].

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