Teen boy dies after being pulled from Lake Michigan in Waukegan, Illinois

A 17-year-old boy died after being pulled out of Lake Michigan on Monday evening in north suburban Waukegan.

The Waukegan Fire Department asked people not to swim in dangerous conditions, and experts with the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project said there's always dangerous currents around boat channels and piers in Lake Michigan, even if it looks calm.

Around 5:30 p.m. Monday, divers with the Waukegan Fire Department responded to a reported drowning at Waukegan Municipal Beach. Signs at Waukegan's beaches warn that there are no lifeguards on duty and visitors swim at their own risk.

Officials said a 17-year-old boy was swimming with friends near the Waukegan Harbor channel, but did not come out of the water. Divers found the boy within a few minutes of starting their search along the break wall.

First responders performed lifesaving measures and rushed the boy to the hospital, but he did not survive.

The Lake County Coroner's Office identified the boy as 17-year-old Gabriel Ramirez, of Waukegan. An autopsy on Monday determined his death "is consistent with drowning."

Waukegan Community Unit School District #60 confirmed he 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," a district spokesman said in a statement. "We know this news is deeply difficult for many of our students and staff. Counseling services have been made available, and our focus remains on supporting those impacted during this time."

A GoFundMe page set up by Ramirez's family to help pay for funeral expenses said he loved working out and was known for his dedication, often working for DoorDash to help his parents with financial support.

David Benjamin, co-founder Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, said even though people may know how to swim, Lake Michigan is still dangerous.

"They likely don't know the hazards. So, around any solid structure in the water, these piers and these channels where the boats go in and out of the harbor, there could be deep water, cold water, as well as currents, even when the water appears calm on the surface," he said.

Benjamin said fighting against the currents in Lake Michigan can very quickly exhaust swimmers.

"They don't understand, it's not common sense to know that panic is the first stage of drowning. When they get into that instant moment like, 'I might be in trouble here,' they can exhaust their energy very quickly and submerge in less than one minute," he said.

Bejamin said the best thing swimmers can do in that kind of situation is to remain calm and float.