Early Tuesday morning, the icy Chicago River claimed the life of an Esperanza woman, Keisha Elissa Garnett, 30, who was living in Dallas, USA, but who had reportedly gone on a visit to Chicago.

Doctors indicated that Keisha died due to the shock she experienced while struggling for her life in the freezing river – covered with huge blocks of ice.

Garnett’s brother, Jeremy Garnett, who described Keisha, his only sister, as a person with a big heart, told NBC News that the family had moved to the US from Belize when Keisha was a child.

“It’s tough. I am having a hard time coping with it. It’s hard to believe that she is gone… I just can’t believe that she is no longer here,” he said.

Around 4:00 on Tuesday morning, Keisha went for an early morning walk with friends and she slipped into the river.

“Her friends waved down a driver, who called for help. Chicago Fire Department dive crews pulled the woman out of the water around 4:15 a.m. She was pronounced dead at 5:20 a.m.,” ABC Chicago reported.

A friend held on to Keisha’s hands for 15 minutes, trying to get her out, before deciding to release her and seek help, the news reports say. A cab driver reportedly stood by and did nothing.

A witness, Hailey Barham, called 911. It was a team of firemen who searched for Keisha amid the ice – but she was already in a critical state when they found her.

Her mourning brother told the media that Keshia was the only girl in a family with three boys.

Dallas news sources reported that Keisha Alissa Garnett’s family said she worked as a housekeeper for a family and was accompanying them on a trip.