17-year-old boy dies after being pulled from Lake Michigan in Waukegan, IL; Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project urges security

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (WLS) — The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project is urging swimming security after a 17-year-old drowned in Lake Michigan.

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The boy’s buddies mentioned they have been swimming within the harbor channel round 5:30 p.m. on Monday.

They referred to as for assist after their good friend didn’t make it out of the water, the Waukegan Fire Department mentioned.

Divers pulled the 17-year-old alongside the break wall close to the underside, hearth officers mentioned.

He was taken to Vista East Medical Center, the place he later died, the Lake County Coroner’s Office mentioned.

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Dave Benjamin of Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project is aware of the risks of Lake Michigan all too properly.

In 2010, he had close to dying expertise by nearly drowning whereas browsing.

Since then, he is used his non-profit to eradicate drownings within the Great Lakes by training and security coaching and consciousness.

Benjamin says since 2025, they have been 81 Great Lakes drownings, 36 of these in Lake Michigan.

“The biggest factor for survival is time,” Benjamin mentioned. “If someone’s struggling in the water, they’re going to submerge in less than a minute. And once they’re submerged, you’ve got like four or five minutes to get them out of the water. So, calling 911 is not an option to rescue a person who’s distressed in the water.”

Benjamin mentioned extra drownings could possibly be prevented if there was extra water security training in colleges.