A search for a missing teenage swimmer from Wisconsin has turned into a recovery effort at Illinois Beach State Park.
Officials with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Tuesday that a search was underway for a 14-year-old boy who went under the water near the beach. After ending the search for the day, officials were still discussing if searching in the area would be beneficial tomorrow. It is possible that currents may have pulled the teen away from the recreation area.
Watch: Search for missing swimmer becomes recovery effort at Illinois Beach State Park
Authorities say the teen, whose identity has not been released, was enjoying a day at the beach with his father on Tuesday when tragedy struck near the rocks. According to the local fire department, a wave pulled the boy underwater around 4 p.m.
First responders from 15 different agencies searched for four hours before the rescue mission transitioned to a recovery operation.
"We never have anything like this happen," said Kenneth Petersen, an Illinois resident who watched the search continue on Wednesday.
The incident has deeply affected other beachgoers, including 12-year-old Kevin Kedei, who visited the park with his family as the search carried on.
"It changes me because like it tells me to be more careful in the water," Kevin said.
His 14-year-old sister Sarah expressed her shock at the situation, noting the victim was the same age as her.
"Shocked. And scared. And just shocked. Cause I would be terrified," Sarah said.
The tragedy has prompted visitors to reflect on water safety, especially in unguarded areas of the lake.
"If he was like a friend and you can't like find him… that's just scary," Sarah said. "Just don't go out too far cause you don't know if there's like rocks or something underneath that can pull you."
Petersen emphasized that while the beach is typically safe, visitors must remain vigilant.
"It's just up to the people to be safe," Petersen said.
The stark contrast between families enjoying a hot July day at the beach while recovery efforts continued nearby served as a powerful reminder of how quickly conditions can change on the Great Lakes.
"It just put a different perspective on seeing what the water can do," Sarah said.
TMJ4 is working to learn more about where in Wisconsin the teen is from as the recovery operation continues.
This is a developing story and will be updated once more information is available.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
