Missing swimmer: Search in Evanston shifting to recovery mission

EVANSTON (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - The search for a swimmer missing from Lake Michigan in Evanston is set to resume this morning after crews failed to find him Sunday.

The distress call came at about 4 p.m. Sunday. The Evanston Fire Department said four people were struggling in the water off Lighthouse Beach and a Good Samaritan saved three of them, two teen girls and a woman.

Captain Jeff Boetto told CBS-2 the conditions were rough.

“We had 4 to 5-feet waves,” Boetto said. “Winds were 14.5 knots out of the northwest, so they were very difficult conditions at the time we got here.”

Evanston said it searched with drones, a helicopter and sonar, with help from the U.S. Coast Guard and Chicago and Wilmette Fire Departments. But, none were able to find the missing 41-year-old man in the choppy water.

There was a red flag flying Sunday, which means no swimming allowed and no lifeguards are on duty.

WBBM has reached out to learn when the search will resume that Evanston FD is calling a recovery at this point.

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