Dangerous water conditions halt search for child missing in Lake Michigan near Indiana beach
A search resumed for a child who disappeared in Lake Michigan near a beach in Michigan City, Indiana, on Monday night.
Michigan City police said officers responded to a possible drowning just before 5:40 p.m. near Washington Park Beach. Witnesses reported seeing a child wearing red shorts enter the water.
Police said the child disappeared underwater just south of the lighthouse and did not resurface.
A search was initiated with dive efforts, a fishing boat, drone technology, and a medical helicopter deployed.
The Michigan City Fire Department said three divers suffered minor injuries during the search and are being treated at Franciscan Health. Fire officials said divers encountered "challenging water conditions" before the search was suspended.
"Search operations were complicated by hazardous lake conditions, including 4- to 6‑foot waves. At the time of the incident, the National Weather Service had issued both a Beach Hazard Statement and a Small Craft Advisory due to strong winds, waves, and dangerous rip currents," The Indiana Department of Natural Resources said in a written release.
While officials haven't been able to dive in the lake, other efforts to find the missing boy who went underwater are ongoing.
At Washington Park Beach, rough water conditions have prompted caution, including from those searching for a teen boy.
"It's just not safe for divers. It's not safe for being on boats right now," said Alex Neel, public information officer with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Neel said that the Michigan City Fire Department has also been out on ATVs and flying drones—doing what they can safely, as they can't access the waters as of yet.
The family of the missing child was out on the pier near where they say he went missing.
Recreational diver Charles Wilson says he and a friend searched for him last night and continued on Tuesday with drones, and even got into the lake.
"It's very dangerous for anybody to come out and swim. Even for experienced swimmers, to be honest with you," he said. "Today we just been scouting out there. We did get in the water, and, uh, it's still extremely dangerous."
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says they're monitoring water conditions before searches can resume. If not, they say they're expecting conditions to be more favorable on Wednesday morning.
