July 20, 2026 4:00 a.m. 

An Illinois man died in a fatal boating incident on Diamond Lake on Saturday.

A Douglas County Sheriff’s Office report said just after 2:15 p.m. dispatchers responded to the lake following a report of a person who had fallen overboard from a pontoon boat and disappeared beneath the water.

Undersheriff Brad O’Dell said the victim was identified as 71-year-old William Harry Bailey of Bethalto, who was at Diamond Lake with family members for a reunion. Earlier in the day, the family rented the boat to spend some time on the lake.

O’Dell said deputies learned that Bailey and his sister moved to the bow of the pontoon to take a photograph. As they stood at the front of the boat, the bow dipped into the water, causing the stern to rise. Both Bailey and his sister lost their balance and fell into the lake.

Witnesses reported that Bailey pushed his sister out of the way to prevent her from falling in front of the boat. In doing so, Bailey fell directly in front of the moving pontoon, which passed over him. Bailey resurfaced briefly, before going back underwater.

O’Dell said family members immediately began searching for Bailey and called 911. Deputies, fire personnel and other emergency responders searched the area of the last known point he was seen but were unable to immediately locate him.

Divers from DCSO responded and were able to locate and recover Bailey’s body from the lake. The Douglas County Medical Examiner’s Office was notified.

Assisting agencies included Diamond Lake Resort, Central Douglas Fire & Rescue, Oregon State Police, Umpqua Valley Ambulance, REACH Air Medical Services and the Oregon State Marine Board.