The coroner has released the identity of a 14-year-old boy who was found dead on Friday after he went missing while swimming in Lake Michigan at Illinois Beach State Park near Zion.
An autopsy performed Monday showed that the death of Kyle Williams, 14, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was consistent with drowning, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
The Beach Park Fire Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Office first 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 called.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said Williams 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 Williams went under the water due to 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 Williams, 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.
A boat with side scan sonar was deployed on Wednesday but fire officials said the water conditions were choppy.
Emergency crews ended the second day of their search effort with no results and conducted subsequent searches on Thursday without any results.
On Friday, search efforts resumed and Williams’ body was located around 7:30 a.m. in the water in the area at the North Unit beach near where the boy went missing.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police, which is the lead agency, has not released any details as to the circumstances of what may have led to Williams going missing.
“The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is grateful for the assistance of local first responders, dive teams, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources,” the agency said.
The coroner’s office said it warns the public that Lake Michigan is “extremely unpredictable.”
“A couple key dangers in Lake Michigan may include rip currents, powerful currents of water that are difficult to detect and structural currents, strong flows of water near piers, jetties and break walls that can pull swimmers underwater and potentially trap them against structures,” the coroner’s office said.
“We are not trying to scare the public — we are trying to save lives. It only takes a few seconds for a fun day to turn into a tragedy,” Banek said.
Officials say personal flotation devices should always be used when in any body of water.
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.