Loved ones gather to mourn man who died swimming at Centennial Beach in Naperville

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Family and friends came together Sunday evening to remember and honor the life of a 27-year-old man who died last week at a southwest suburban beach.

Manuel Rosales was pulled from the water at Centennial Beach in Naperville Thursday night and pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Police say Rosales had been swimming with a group of friends toward a floating dock in the middle of the deep end. When the group reached the dock, they realized he hadn’t arrived and quickly notified lifeguards.

Rosales is survived by his wife and eight-year-old daughter. He was a barber in Addison at Luxe Barber Shop.

His family has retained an attorney because they are concerned about how lifeguards reacted.

“Right now, it’s just about Manny and his memory and being able to come together as a family and as a community and put our arms around each other and love one another and try to get through these next couple of days,” attorney Edward Witas said.

The Naperville Park District offers condolences to the family and says they are cooperating with the police investigation.