Manuel Jose Rosales Yajure died after being found unresponsive in the water at Centennial Beach early Thursday evening, Naperville police said.
His family has hired an attorney.
Lawyers say video footage shows lifeguards failing to act in a timely manner.
They say Rosales was underwater for nearly 30 minutes before he was eventually found unconscious by police.
"They decided they were going to do a race from the shallow end to the landing. They thought Manny is under the water. He's on the way to the landing. They get to the landing; there is no Manny," lawyer Edward Witas said. "They contacted a lifeguard to put him on notice that Manny was missing. They couldn't find him. The lifeguard's response was 'Go look in the bathroom. Go look in the parking lot.' They did absolutely nothing."
Mary Lou Wehrli was walking her dog nearby when she captured this video of the team of lifeguards diving in to search for Rosales.
"I witnessed the guards going through their very structured approach to trying to find someone in 15 feet of water and 6.2 million gallons of water," Wehrli said.
The Naperville Park District said in a statement, "Our deepest condolences are with the family and loved ones. While we do not agree with either the timeline and information you noted, we will not speculate or comment publicly, but instead will continue to cooperate with the police investigation into the matter."
Rosales leaves behind a wife and 8-year-old daughter.
He was a barber in Addison. It was his dream to own a barbershop in the United States: one he realized earlier this year.
On Monday, the barbershop sat empty. His chair was covered in flowers, and condolence notes from friends and clients covered the mirror. A bicycle was donated for his little girl.
"Her world rotated around her father," Rosales' widow Misleidy Perez said in Spanish.
The young family emigrated along with his brother from Venezuela less than two years ago.
"Everything I am I learned thanks to him," Yeferson Rosales said in Spanish. "He taught me how to be a good brother, how to face life."
Naperville police said officers responded to the beach for a report of a missing person, who was last seen in the pool's deep end, just before 5:45 p.m. Thursday.
Police believe the man was in the water with a group of friends, trying to swim to a floating dock in the middle of the deep end.
When the group arrived at the dock, police said, they noticed their friend was no longer with them. They searched the area around them before returning to shore.
Police said lifeguards were eventually notified about the missing man and found him in the water, unresponsive, just after 6 p.m.
The Naperville Fire Department rushed the man to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police said there is no indication of foul play, and they are investigating alongside the DuPage County Coroner's Office.
Preliminary autopsy results are expected this week.
Wehrli hopes this tragedy will serve as a reminder for people at the beach to look out for one another.
"Anyone who comes to the beach is part of our community, and we all need to be mindful of our role in keeping each other safe," Wehrli said.
Rosales' family is devastated and searching for answers. They said their loved one was a strong swimmer, and lifeguards dismissed their concerns.
They also have to get his remains back to Venezuela.
They believe his death could have been prevented.
Centennial Beach was closed Friday and Saturday, but reopened Sunday.
Police asked anyone with information to call them at 630-548-1421.
Rosales' family released a statement through their lawyer that said:
"The family of Manuel Rosales, along with their legal representatives, continue to grieve the tragic loss of their beloved father, husband, and friend, who lost his life at Centennial Beach on July 10, 2025. As the investigation unfolds, new and troubling concerns have emerged regarding the treatment Manuel and his friends received on the day of the incident.
"Manuel Rosales was a Venezuelan national who legally immigrated to the United States in 2023, seeking a better life for himself and his family. Friends who were with Manuel that day have shared deeply disturbing accounts. According to their statements, they believe their cries for help were not given the urgency or respect they deserved, possibly due to their ethnic and racial background. From the moment they entered the water, they felt unwelcome-observing that lifeguards appeared to judge them based on their appearance and seemed irritated by their Spanish-speaking presence.
"When Manuel was first discovered missing, his friends immediately alerted the lifeguards, only to be told to look for him in the bathroom and parking lot rather than initiating immediate water rescue protocols. They feel that their pleas were dismissed or minimized, and that the response was influenced by the lifeguards' apparent prejudices.
"It was not until more than thirty minutes later, when Naperville police and fire personnel arrived, that the water was searched and Manuel's lifeless body was finally found. The delay in emergency response-especially at a public facility tasked with protecting all patrons- has left Manuel's loved ones devastated and searching for answers.
"'We cannot help but wonder if quicker action might have saved Manuel's life,' said Edward J. Witas, attorney for the Family. 'No family should have to question whether their loved one received equal protection and care because of their background. We urge the community to reflect with compassion and demand accountability, not only for Manuel but for every person who deserves safety and respect.'
"The Rosales family continues to call for a thorough, transparent investigation. They ask for the community's empathy and support as they seek answers, justice, and change to ensure that tragedies like this never happen again."