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The woman who died after being rescued by the Madison Fire Department’s (MFD) lake rescue team has been identified as University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of African American Studies Student Affairs Program Coordinator Nina Liamba, according to a GoFundMe by her sister Michelle Liamba.
The Department of African American Studies confirmed her death in a statement Tuesday.
“Nina was kind, quiet and generous,” the statement read. “She was a devoted mother and beloved daughter and sister. Nina had a welcoming spirit and smile.”
UW-Madison spokesperson Doug Erickson confirmed Liamba was a university employee from 2015 to the time of her death.
MFD’s lake rescue team retrieved Liamba from the water following reports of a person yelling for help in Lake Mendota around 4:30 a.m. Friday. Witnesses heard calls for help behind Iota Court near Langdon Street, according to a report from MFD.
Liamba was transported to UW Health University Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The Madison Police Department (MPD) is still investigating why Liamba was in Lake Mendota and said nothing suspicious was found, according to WMTV.
Student support and community resources are available via University Health Services’ crisis line at (608) 265-5600, option 9.
Tomer Ronen is the Features Editor for the Daily Cardinal. He has covered protests, state politics, sports and more. Follow him on Twitter at @TRonen22.
