Recovery operations continued Wednesday for the body of a 14-year-old boy who drowned at Illinois Beach State Park at around 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to Beach Park Fire Chief Tom Stahl.
It’s at least the second drowning this summer at the park, where first responders have complained more equipment and manpower are needed to handle emergencies in the wake of beach-related improvements the state has made in recent years.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Forest Preserves, and the Winthrop Harbor, Waukegan and Pleasant Prairie fire departments were aiding in the search, Stahl said. The Coast Guard was also involved.
On Wednesday, about a dozen first responders and a handful of boats were involved in the search, as about 30 people looked on from the beach and nearby.
Stahl said officials believe the boy drowned near the breakwaters, although that has yet to be confirmed. It is too early to determine the cause of the incident, he said.
Last month, the drowning death of 20-year-old Luis Espinoza Contreras reignited calls from area fire departments for state and federal assistance in addressing the rise in water emergency calls in the Illinois Beach State Park area in recent years.
They said the beachfront, freshly renovated through a $73 million shoreline restoration project, has drawn in more people, leading to more rescue calls and straining the limited resources of the small departments in the area.
In June, fire chiefs from the Beach Park, Zion and Winthrop Harbor fire departments held a news conference asking for funding for a new rescue boat, additional water rescue training and beach patrol staffing.
While the area departments have been pooling their resources to help address the issues, including purchasing two waverunners and successfully fundraising for a 40-year-old, 24-foot boat, Winthrop Harbor Fire Chief Rocco Campanella said they need help from the state and federal governments.
“Our fire department is fundraising through pancake breakfasts just to pay for basic supplies,” he said at the time.
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Last year, Beach Park had two fatal water incidents, its first since 2020, after seeing more than 2 million annual visitors, up from 1.2 million in 2015.