An active search is underway involving fire departments from throughout Lake and McHenry counties after a kayak and life preserver were found on Lake Michigan near Winthrop Harbor.
The Winthrop Harbor Fire Department and Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin Fire and Rescue Department responded around 10:22 a.m. Friday to the North Point Marina, 701 North Point Drive in Winthrop Harbor, for a report of a water rescue.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit and U.S. Coast Guard also responded to the call.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said an abandoned kayak and a personal floatation device were found approximately two miles offshore.
Covelli said an active search was underway to see if anyone was in distress in the water.
The fire department response was eventually upgraded through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS).
The MABAS upgrade resulted in boats, divers and sonar technicians from fire departments throughout Lake and McHenry counties being sent to the scene.
Covelli said around 12:30 p.m. that the search remained ongoing in the area where the kayak and life vest were found.
No one had been located and there are not any reports of missing people, Covelli said.
“We are also checking with local marinas to see if it’s possible a kayak went adrift from their shore or docking area,” he said.