Fire officials say Good Samaritans rescued a pulseless man who had been in Lake Michigan “for an extended period of time” at the Illinois Beach State Park near Zion Monday evening.
The Zion Fire-Rescue Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 5:59 p.m. Monday to Isherwood Beach off of 17th Street in Zion for a report of a water rescue.
Fire crews arrived to find a pulseless man on the beach at the water’s edge, according to Zion Fire-Rescue Department Lt. Nick Urbanik.
Urbanik said the man had been rescued by bystanders from Lake Michigan on the north end of the Illinois Beach State Park, which is an area referred to as the North Dunes.
The bystanders told rescue crews the victim appeared to be in distress and went under the water for an extended period of time.
Firefighters and paramedics immediately started CPR on the victim, who was unconscious and not breathing, Urbanik said.
Paramedics continued advanced life support care on the victim and transported him to a local hospital. The man’s condition was not immediately available.
Urbanik said it is unknown what caused the man to become in distress in the water.
“The Zion Fire and Rescue Department stresses the need for and importance of safe swimming practices for any body of water, especially Lake Michigan,” the department said.
Lake County Sheriff Spokesman Lt. Christopher Covelli said sheriff’s deputies turned the scene over to the Illinois Conservation Police Department, which is investigating the incident.