Several drownings and water accidents have occurred in the waters of Chicago and the Lake Michigan suburbs in recent days – NBC Chicago

In recent days, at least two people have died in several water accidents or drownings in the waters of Lake Michigan in and around Chicago, and one is still missing.

The first incident occurred early Monday morning when a 12-foot sailboat launched in Evanston capsized near a beach in suburban Winnetka. According to authorities, one of the boaters, a woman, managed to swim two miles to Tower Road Beach, where she informed authorities that the other boater, a 50-year-old woman, was missing.

After a search and rescue mission, authorities pulled a second victim from the water and brought him to Chicago’s Montrose Harbor, according to Coast Guard officials.

Upon arrival at the port, the victim was pronounced dead.

According to authorities, both boaters were wearing life jackets.

The second incident occurred Monday afternoon near Chicago’s Montrose Beach, when a 16-year-old teenager died when the raft he was traveling on capsized, prompting a dramatic rescue of a 16-year-old girl who was with him.

According to police, the woman was pulled ashore by a witness.

“I heard someone screaming for help,” said one witness. “Seeing this is traumatic and will stay with me for a long time.”

The man was pulled from the lake by Chicago Fire Department divers and dropped off by helicopter, authorities said.

The teenager was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition, CFD said. He was later pronounced dead.

Later Monday, another incident occurred at Montrose Beach when a man and woman entered the water in a no-swimming area, authorities said. One woman was pulled from the water and a good Samaritan performed CPR until authorities arrived.

The woman was resuscitated and taken to a nearby hospital in good condition, officials said. The man was treated at the scene and released, officials added.

Over the weekend, a 58-year-old man fell from a boat in Chicago’s Playpen. After a days-long search, he is still missing, according to authorities.

Dave Benjamin, co-founder of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, told NBC Chicago that such incidents are more common in warmer weather.

“If it’s warm and windy on a weekend and there are waves, there will be more drowning accidents,” Benjamin said.

According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, temperatures in the Chicago area will be above 90 degrees for most of the week, with heat indices nearing 100 degrees at times.

According to Benjamin, most deaths are due to victims not wearing life jackets, and about 50% of boating accidents are alcohol-related. He advised residents to be sure to wear appropriate life jackets and not to drink while on the water.

“Imagine trying to put on your seatbelt in a car accident,” he said. “The same is true if you’re trying to put on a life jacket in a boating accident or an emergency on the water. It’s going to be very difficult.”

He also urges residents to be cautious if they witness a water emergency.

“Most people assume that swimming means safety in the water,” he said. “Safety in the water means knowing a survival strategy.”

This strategy is about using the best possible methods to rescue someone, and that doesn’t always involve jumping into the water.

“If someone is struggling in water that is over their head, we recommend turning around, floating and following,” Benjamin said. “If you see someone struggling in the water, call 911, alert a lifeguard, hand the person something or throw something that floats. It is dangerous to enter the water to rescue someone.”

He even says that the fact that water is colder than air can help turn a frightening situation into a tragedy.

“If someone is wearing a life jacket and there is a fatal drowning accident, it is generally associated with cold water and can cause hypothermia,” he said. “Even though the air temperature is warmer, we have cold water temperatures, so hypothermia can be a contributing factor.”