An Albany Park man died trying to rescue his 11-year-old nephew who fell from a small boat off the 63rd Street Beach Monday afternoon, authorities said.
“He was a hero, he died being a hero,” Michael Hammond said of his 31-year-old brother James. “My brother is courageous.”
James Hammond had just recently bought the boat and had gone out on the lake with three young relatives, including the nephew, according to family and Deputy District Fire Chief Ron Dorneker, head of marine and dive operations.
The nephew fell from the boat around 12:45 p.m. and Hammond jumped in after him, Dorneker said.
Hammond, who was not wearing a lifejacket, disappeared under the surface while lifeguards came to the aid of the nephew, who was wearing a jacket, Dorneker said.
“Lifeguards on the beach heard the commotion and were able to quickly row out in a lifeguard rowboat and assist the 11-year-old that was in the water,” he said.
Hammond was found by divers and taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Fire Department. The boy was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in good condition.
Michael Hammond said he got a call from his daughter on the boat saying James had disappeared under the water.
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Hammond said his brother was “always helping others.” He lived in the 4400 block of North Drake Avenue, according to the medical examiner.
At the scene, Chicago police officers closed off a section of the beach with yellow tape as beachgoers grilled and played volleyball. Some huddled together and watched the officers and firefighters near the beach parking lot.
Some started packing their cars to leave, their July Fourth plans cut short by the accident.
“Guess we’ll head out,” a mother told her young son as he pouted.
The baiduhai’s Terrence Antonio James and WGN-TV contributed.