Emergency crews have ended their second day of searches on Sunday for a swimmer who remains missing in Lake Michigan near Highland Park, officials said.
The Highland Park Fire Department and Lake County Forest Preserve Police Department responded around 12 p.m. Saturday to Openlands Lakeshore Preserve at Fort Sheridan, 31 Walker Avenue in Highland Park, for a water rescue for a person in distress.
City officials said it was reported that a swimmer was in distress, struggling in the water on Lake Michigan.
A female victim reportedly attempted to jump in and rescue the male but was unable.
A bystander boat rescued the female and also attempted to assist the male swimmer but was unable to reach him due to Lake Michigan’s strong currents.
The Highland Park Fire Department water rescue team immediately initiated rescue efforts focused on the swimmer’s last identified location, city officials said.
The Highland Park Police Department deployed a police drone to assist in the search. A Lake Forest Fire Department drone was also deployed.
The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to the box alarm level and then to the third alarm level.
The activation brought numerous fire departments from Lake, McHenry and Cook counties to the scene with divers, boats and sonar equipment.
A command post was established on Saturday near Overlook Road and Johnston Drive by where the swimmer was last seen.
Fire crews were launching boats from the Park Avenue Boat Ramp, 31 Park Avenue in Highland Park.
A member of the dive team was briefly reported missing during the early search efforts. They were located and uninjured, city officials said.
The incident was transitioned to a “recovery mission” and no longer a rescue mission around 2 p.m. Saturday.
First responders were continuing to actively search for the missing swimmer throughout the day until they suspended search efforts around 6 p.m., at which time boat access to the waterfront along the Openlands shoreline resumed.
“The City of Highland Park greatly appreciates the partnership of neighboring communities in providing mutual aid support during this emergency water search,” the city said in a statement.
City officials said the recovery effort resumed around 8 a.m. Sunday.
The Highland Park, Wilmette, Glenview, Lake Forest, Northbrook, Evanston and Winnetka fire departments were at the scene on Sunday.
They were using sonar equipment and drones, along with an underwater rover.
The recovery operation on Sunday lasted approximately four and a half hours before concluding around 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
The missing person, who was not located as of Sunday afternoon, has not been publicly identified yet.
“The City greatly appreciates the assistance of dive teams and EMS support from neighboring communities throughout the region in responding to this call,” city officials said.