A man is in critical condition and 15 others were rescued during two separate incidents on Lake Michigan, one of which a jet ski capsized and in the other a boat capsized Saturday evening, Waukegan fire officials said.
The Waukegan Fire Department responded around 6:20 p.m. Saturday to east of the NRG power plant, 401 East Greenwood Avenue, on Lake Michigan for a report of a capsized boat.
14 people were on the boat and some of them were in the water when fire crews arrived, Waukegan Fire Captain Anthony Soler said.
All 14 people, which included children and adults, were safely rescued by a fire rescue boat and then transferred to a U.S. Coast Guard boat, which brought them back to land. No one was injured.
At the same time, first responders were also called nearby to the Waukegan Harbor at the fuel dock for a capsized jet ski, Soler said. Two people were on the jet ski when it capsized and rescuers found an adult male in the water unresponsive.
He was rescued by divers and paramedics performed CPR on him, Soler said. He was transported in critical condition to Vista East Medical Center in Waukegan.
The National Weather Service had issued a moderate swim risk advisory, which means that breaking waves and currents are to be expected, for Saturday afternoon in the area where the two incidents occurred.