Child drowns in Lake Michigan, dangerous conditions injure three rescue divers, Indiana
Search for a missing 13-year-old boy in Lake Michigan ended on June 23, 2026 when responders recovered his body from 3.5 m (11 feet) of water, following an operation that left four divers injured amid dangerous water conditions prompting an overnight suspension of the search.
Image credit: Safura Syed
The body of a 13-year-old boy was recovered from Lake Michigan on June 23 after he drowned on June 22. The search continued through the night of June 22 into June 23.
“Officers from Uniform Patrol Shift II were dispatched to Washington Park on June 22 at approximately 17:38 LT for a possible drowning. Bystanders observed a child wearing red shorts enter Lake Michigan along the east side of the catwalk, just south of the lighthouse,” the Michigan City Police Department (MCPD) reported.
“The child never resurfaced after entering the water, which initiated an immediate response from the Michigan City Police Department, Michigan City Fire Department, Long Beach Police Department, LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and LaPorte County Emergency Medical Service (EMS),” the department added.
The search continued for several hours before being suspended due to hazardous water conditions. Three rescue divers from the Michigan City Fire Department sustained minor injuries and were transported to Franciscan Health for treatment. An Indiana DNR diver was also injured and evaluated by EMS at the scene.
“Powerful currents, changing waves, and limited visibility below the surface can quickly become dangerous, even for experienced swimmers and rescue personnel. Please pay attention to beach conditions, obey all posted warnings, and stay out of the water during hazardous conditions,” MCPD said.
The boy’s body was recovered at approximately 07:45 LT on June 23. It was found beneath approximately 3.4 m (11 feet) of water near the pier. The victim’s identity is being withheld at this time out of respect for the family’s privacy.
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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