Two teens were hospitalized after they became distressed while swimming in Lake Michigan and were rescued by bystanders at Illinois Beach State Park near Zion Saturday, the second occurrence in just days.
The Beach Park Fire Department and Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police responded around 4:54 p.m. Saturday to Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park, 1 Lake Front Drive in unincorporated Zion, for a report of a water rescue.
Beach Park Fire Department Lt. Pablo Ramirez said it was reported that two teenagers were struggling to stay afloat in Lake Michigan.
Firefighters arrived and made contact with Illinois Beach State Park personnel.
They advised that both victims had already been safely removed from the water and were on the beach.
Firefighters and paramedics assessed both victims and found them to be conscious, alert and breathing, Ramirez said.
Ramirez said both victims were transported by ATV to awaiting ambulances at 5:15 p.m.
The Newport Fire Protection District and Zion Fire Rescue Department each transported one of the victims to area hospitals for further evaluation.
Ramirez said they were stable at the time of transport.
Hilary Gross told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that she and her partner were at the state park after traveling up from Champaign-Urbana.
She was getting packed up to leave when she saw what appeared to be three people in the water acting erratically and yelling.
“At first most of the beach thought it was teenager boys goofing around, but then more people started trying to call for help. The park employees were in their truck nearby, so people were trying to get their attention, but they were instead yelling at someone for sitting on the rocks, citing the $195 fine they would have to pay, meanwhile it became clear to be that the figures in the water were struggling to keep their heads above water, and this was a real emergency,” Gross said.
She said she ran for the nearest emergency ring on the beach and went into the water while her partner ran to park employees, who were not trained to help.
“Myself and another man jumped into the water to help. The man dived and went after the younger boy who was farther out, so I swam to the larger boy, to get him the emergency ring,” she said.
One of the employees called 911 “but not right away” and Gross’ partner came into the water to assist, as did another bystander.
The bystanders were able to come together to get the two boys to shore. The third person was able to get herself out of the water.
“While this was happening, the park employees moved their truck, but would not enter the water. They told my partner, ‘We’re not lifeguards,’ and refused to help. As we were swimming back to shore, I saw them leaning on the truck, just standing there,” Gross said.
She said the employees had another emergency ring in the back of their truck but did not throw it to them.
“They did not offer it to my partner, so we had a 100-150 lb boy who was extremely erratic, and appeared to be developmentally disabled, and a larger boy, likely 200 lbs, who was having trouble responding who we were trying to drag to shore,” Gross said.
“They did throw out the emergency disk instead of the ring, but without understanding how the ring is meant to work. It is meant to be used to pull someone in, reeling them almost like a fish. Instead they threw it out with all of the slack, and it itself does not help with buoyancy,” Gross said.
The bystanders got tangled in the unused line as they were trying to get to shore.
Gross said they got both boys to dry land and got them on their sides so they could get the water out of their lungs.
“But those boys would have been dead long before the rescue firefighters arrived, and I am not exaggerating when I say, no park employee touched a toe to the water to help,” she said.
Gross said she learned that the younger of the two victims did not know how to swim and the two juveniles had been on a sandbar when a wave shifted them off the sandbar and into the deep water, causing them to panic.
She said the older boy was breathing but non-responsive and did not open his eyes, while the younger boy was more responsive but seemed to be going into shock.
“Signage and systems about what to do in an emergency need to be much clearer, and park employees at a minimum should be trained with how to use their own emergency equipment,” Gross said. “This park is unsafe in its current state, regardless of whether people should know better.”
The Beach Park Fire Department said everyone visiting Lake Michigan beaches should always check and obey posted beach hazard warnings before entering the water.
A Yellow Flag Beach Hazard Advisory was in effect on the day of the incident and posted at multiple locations throughout Illinois Beach State Park, Ramirez said.
“Even when conditions appear calm, currents and waves along Lake Michigan can quickly become hazardous. The Beach Park Fire Department extends its appreciation to Illinois Beach State Park staff, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police, Newport Fire Protection District, Zion Fire Rescue Department, and all assisting mutual aid agencies for their coordinated response and commitment to public safety,” the fire department said.
Ramirez said visitors are encouraged to make water safety a priority by swimming only in designated areas, remaining aware of changing lake conditions and respecting posted beach hazard advisories.
The incident was the second to occur in less than a week at the Illinois Beach State Park.
Two teenage boys were transported to the hospital after they were rescued by friends and bystanders from Lake Michigan on July 13.
Paramedics provided medical care to both of the victims and transported them to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan.