Waukegan authorities said a swimmer who disappeared beneath the surface of Lake Michigan before being recovered by rescue divers has died.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office identified him Tuesday as Gabriel Ramirez, 17, of Waukegan.
Waukegan fire officials said they were alerted to the harbor channel area at about 5:30 p.m. Monday for a reported drowning.
Friends of the victim told police that they had been swimming in the lake, and Ramirez did not make it out of the water.
Rescue divers entered the lake at the point where the victim was last seen, and a call was issued for aid from area departments.
Waukegan divers were able to locate the youth within a few minutes near the bottom along a break wall. Ramirez was loaded into a boat and first responders began advanced life-saving measures before the victim was transported to Vista East Medical Center.
Waukegan School District 60 spokesperson Nicholas Alatzakis said Tuesday that Ramirez was a junior at Waukegan High School.
“Our hearts are with his family, friends, classmates and everyone in our school community who is grieving this heartbreaking loss,” he said Tuesday evening in a text message.
Alatzakis said counseling services have been made available.
The Waukegan Fire Department urged residents not to swim in areas that are not designated for the activity.
“Dangerous currents exist around the piers and rock walls even during calm conditions. Please do not swim during dangerous weather or outside protected areas,” the department said.