Search suspended for missing swimmer in Lake Michigan near Highland Park

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (WGN) — Search efforts for a missing swimmer in Lake Michigan near Highland Park have been suspended Sunday after crews searched for hours with no success.

City officials said emergency crews were sent to the area of Openlands Lakeshore Preserve in Fort Sheridan at around noon Saturday for reports of a swimmer struggling in the waters of Lake Michigan.

Peter Mordini, who was out boating, says he came across a swimmer calling out that someone was underwater and in danger.

He says he grabbed scuba gear and goggles from his boat, dove in and spent about 30 minutes searching through strong currents. He could not find the person due to the lake’s strong currents.

“We were close. If we would’ve been here five minutes earlier, it would have been a different story,” Mordini said. “Just a sad day.”

Numerous people out enjoying the water say they saw others rushing to help the person in distress before rescue teams arrived.

“A woman on the beach saw someone struggling went down in the water. She swam out and was attempting to find them and a boat stops,” Jessie Baker, a bystander, said.

Officials said the Highland Park Fire Department’s Water Rescue Team initiated rescue efforts, while the Highland Park Police Department launched a drone to help with the search.

Officials added a member of the dive team was briefly reported missing during the search but was later found and uninjured.

The search continued until 6 p.m. Saturday. Recovery efforts will resumed at 8 a.m. on Sunday, but were called off just after noon due to strong currents.

The missing person has not been identified.