Search for missing swimmer at Chicago area beach continues for second day
EVANSTON, Ill. (CBS) — The search for a swimmer who went missing Sunday afternoon at Lighthouse Beach in Evanston resumed on Monday.
The search for the 41-year-old man was suspended around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, police said, though the beach remained closed to the public. The choppy waters made the recovery efforts difficult for first responders.
Emergency personnel from multiple agencies responded Sunday afternoon to the beach's scene where four swimmers had gotten caught in high surf. A good Samaritan jumped into action and managed to pull three of the swimmers out of the water before first responders could arrive.
"We had 4 to 5-foot waves, winds were 14.5 knots on the northwest, so there were very difficult conditions at the time we got here," said Chief Jeff Boetto with the Evanston Fire Department.
The three swimmers who were rescued were two teenage girls and a woman. They were a mother and her two teenage daughters.
As of midday Monday, a 41-year-old man was still missing. It as unclear what his relationship was to the three other people who were rescued. Crews conducted an extensive search with helicopters, drones, and sonar technology.
It's unclear why the swimmers were in the water as red flags were flying at the beach throughout the day on Sunday. Red flags were flying at the beach on Monday, as they were on Sunday, indicating that swimming was prohibited because of the high surf and strong currents.
David Benjamin, co-founder of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project and an avid swimmer, said even the most experienced swimmer could find themselves in danger, especially on a red flag day when high surf and strong currents make it almost impossible to stay afloat.
"If they are jumping in the waves and then, next thing you know, they are stepping into a rip current channel, now they have water over their head and they are being pulled offshore as a wave is pounding them over the head," Benjamin said.
He added a swimmer can quickly get exhausted and submerge if they're struggling and panic.
The search for the missing man went on for hours on Sunday before officials called off the recovery mission just before 8 p.m. Sunday due to harsh conditions.
"The conditions in the water with the waves, it's just zero visibility out there for us," Boetto said.
Evanston Fire Department crews on two personal watercraft and two boats were searching near the shoreline on Monday. Divers were also seen in the water. Northbrook Fire Department crews also were assisting with the search.
The search for the man is expected to continue at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.