LaHarpe couple dies Saturday in ice fishing incident at farm pond near Durham

DURHAM, Ill. — An apparent ice fishing accident on Saturday led to the death of two people in rural Hancock County.

The Hancock County 911 Center received a call at approximately 3:44 p.m. Saturday reporting two people in the water from an ice fishing accident at a rural farm pond near Durham. Emergency services arrived on scene, and within minutes, both people were rescued from the water. Life-saving measures were started. A Hancock County Sheriff’s Department deputy entered the water to make the rescue effort.

Both people were transported to Great River Medical Center in West Burlington, Iowa. Life-saving measures were attempted for several hours, but at around 10 p.m., officials from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department spoke with officials from Des Moines County in Iowa and learned Sean D. Chaney, 52, and his wife, Dawn A. Chaney, 50, both of rural LaHarpe, had died.

A full investigation into the incident is underway. 

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department was assisted by the Dallas City Police Department, Dallas Rural Fire Protection District, LaHarpe Police Department, Nauvoo Ambulance, Air Evac and Med Force.