Search for missing swimmer at Lighthouse Beach concludes until Monday

EVANSTON, Ill. (CBS) — The search for a swimmer who went missing at Lighthouse Beach in Evanston Sunday afternoon has concluded for the night, according to police.

Emergency personnel from multiple agencies responded to the scene at the beach, where four swimmers got caught in high surf. The water became too choppy for first responders, forcing them to pause their search officials say is now a recovery mission.

From high above to deep down in the rough surf of Lake Michigan, emergency personnel moved quickly and diligently on Sunday afternoon, responding to four swimmers reported missing in the water just before 4 p.m.

"We had 4 to 5-foot waves, winds were 14.5 knots on the northwest, so there were very difficult conditions at the time we got here," said Chief Jeff Boetto with the Evanston Fire Department.

A good Samaritan jumped into action and managed to pull three of the swimmers out of the water before first responders could arrive.

They were identified as two teenage girls and a woman who was assisted by Evanston firefighters before falling to her knees.

As of Sunday night, a 41-year-old man remains missing. The search for him went on for hours before officials called off the recovery mission just before 8 p.m. due to harsh conditions.

"The conditions in the water with the waves, it's just zero visibility out there for us," Boetto said.

It's unclear why the swimmers were in the water as red flags were flying at the beach throughout the day.

While they are believed to be related, the relationships between the swimmers were not immediately known.

The search for the missing man will continue Monday morning.