Almost $20,000 has been raised for the family of a 28-year-old father and community activist from Chicago who drowned last week in the Fox Lake following a tubing accident.
Malik Alim, 28, of Chicago, and his two children were being pulled on a water tube by a pontoon boat around 10 a.m. on August 20, according to Fox Lake Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Ed Lescher.
Alim and his two children fell off the tube into the water on the Fox Lake south of Crabapple Island, Lescher said.
The two children were wearing life jackets but their father was not wearing one, Lescher said.
Alim did not resurface and the driver of the pontoon boat called 911.
Over two dozen fire departments were sent to the scene with divers, boats and sonar equipment. Helicopters and drones were also overhead assisting in the search.
Lescher said that search efforts were being hampered because of “very murky” water on the Fox Lake.
On August 22, following three days of intensive search efforts, crews recovered Alim’s body.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek said an autopsy confirmed that the body recovered was Alim.
The Chicago Community Bond Fund said in a social media post that they were heartbroken to share that Alim passed away.
“Malik joined CCBF’s staff in December 2019 and quickly became a champion for the movement to end to money bond in Illinois. He worked as CCBF’s Advocate and represented the organization in many campaigns, such as the Budget for Black Lives,” the organization said.
“Malik’s previous role at CCBF was Campaign Coordinator for the Coalition to End Money Bond, in which he played an instrumental role in the passage of the Pretrial Fairness Act.”
Illinois Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton said on social media she was “so very sorry” and that she was “praying for all who loved him.”
A GoFundMe created on Friday by the family of Alim has raised $19,200 as of Sunday morning.
“We experienced the devastating loss of our fearless Malik. His physical being rests from his journey through this earth, and we can now be grateful that Malik’s spirit and soul will always be with us everywhere we go,” Rafi Alim said in the GoFundMe.
“Malik’s family recognizes and embraces that the community of people who love and cherish his spirit is vast, and for that we are beyond grateful. We wish to acknowledge those who feel compelled to give in ways that go beyond prayers and condolences. This fund will support his celebration of life and ongoing legacy,” Rafi Alim said.
“We would like to encourage everyone to remember the type of man Malik was, and attempt to embody the same amazing qualities he himself carried.”