A 14-year-old boy remains missing after he went under the water while swimming in Lake Michigan at Illinois Beach State Park near Zion as crews have begun a second day of searches Wednesday morning.
The Beach Park Fire Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 4:03 p.m. Tuesday to the Illinois Beach State Park, 1 Lake Front Drive in unincorporated Zion, for a report of a water rescue.
The Zion Fire Rescue Department, Winthrop Harbor Fire Department and Newport Fire Protection District also were called to assist in the initial response.
Fire crews arrived and the incident was upgraded through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) to the box alarm for divers, as well as side sonar technicians and equipment, to respond.
The upgrade prompted fire departments from throughout Lake County and McHenry County, as well as Wisconsin, to respond. At least 22 fire department divers and nine sonar technicians were responding.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said a 14-year-old boy was swimming at the beach when he went missing.
The boy’s father had been with him at the beach at the time he went missing.
While a witness reported the boy went under the water by a wave, fire officials said there are conflicting stories as to what exactly happened.
Fire department boats, divers and numerous drones were actively searching for the child, Covelli said.
The U.S. Coast Guard, including a helicopter, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police also responded.
The searches ended for the day at sunset on Tuesday evening. “Unfortunately, the teen was not located,” Covelli said.
Fire officials said crews had returned to the scene on Wednesday morning and resumed search efforts, which had shifted to a recovery effort due to the amount of time that had passed.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Winthrop Harbor Fire Department, Beach Park Fire Department and a Zion Police Department drone were involved in the efforts on Wednesday morning.
A boat with side scan sonar has been deployed and fire officials say the water conditions are choppy.
The incident comes just a month after a 20-year-old man from Waukegan drowned at the North Unit beach at the Illinois Beach State Park while swimming.
Fire officials have said that while the recent restoration of the Illinois Beach State Park has created an attractive and inviting shoreline, the lake can be “deceptively dangerous,” even on calm days.
“Swimmers are urged to exercise extreme caution, as hazardous currents may be present even when not visibly apparent. Use of personal flotation devices is strongly recommended for all individuals entering the water,” fire officials said.