Woman, teen daughter hospitalized after Lake Michigan water rescue at Illinois State Beach Park, fire officials say

BEACH PARK, Ill. (WLS) — A mother was seriously injured and her teenage daughter was taken to the hospital following a water rescue at Illinois State Beach Park on Thursday.

This particular area of the beach, run by the state, is publicly accessible but isn’t supervised by lifeguards. Lake County rescuers mentioned that they are increasingly overstretched as they try to assist swimmers who are already in distress.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Once more, on Thursday afternoon, rescuers were called to the beach just south of the Wisconsin state line to help a swimmer struggling on a hot summer day.

The water distress incident happened around 4:15 p.m. along the Lake Michigan shoreline, the Beach Park Fire Protection District said.

A woman in her 30s was submerged for approximately five minutes, according to fire officials. Her 14-year-old daughter managed to stay above water but ingested a significant amount of water.

The mother and daughter were rescued from the water by “heroic bystanders” who started CPR on the woman, officials said.

The woman was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Her daughter was also taken to a hospital to be evaluated.

“It looked like there were people around screaming,” witness Jesus Fuentes said.

Witnesses, including Fuentes and his friends, watched from a distance as Lake County deputies and rescuers pulled the mother and daughter from the water. This is the same location where a boy of similar age drowned just two weeks prior.

Speaking at a city council meeting Tuesday night, Zion’s Fire Chief said local rescuers have collectively begged for state money.

Zion Fire Department Chief Justin Stried commented, “The IDNR has made it clear that there is no budget or current plans to offer support to individual municipalities or fire districts for emergency response boats or extra lakefront personnel during the swimming season.”

Lake Michigan experts with the Great Lakes Surf and Rescue Project said the seemingly serene stretch of shoreline has grown increasingly dangerous and deadly, especially at jagged break wall formations.

“Unfortunately, the rocks that they’ve dumped in the water has actually created shoreline instability, so it has completely reconfigured the beach,” said Dave Benjamin, co-founder of the Great Lakes Surf and Rescue Project.

Great Lakes Surf and Rescue Project says 23 people have drowned so far this year in Lake Michigan.

No further information about Thursday’s water rescue was immediately available.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

You May Also Like

California Unions Win TRO; CHIRLA Gets DOJ List, DOJ Loses

California Unions Win TRO; CHIRLA Gets DOJ List, DOJ Loses

On Thursday, the SEIU and AFL-CIO, which represent election workers across California,…
Massive Waves Damage 114 Huntington Beach Homes in Southern California

Massive Waves Damage 114 Huntington Beach Homes in Southern California

Powerful king tides battered Huntington Beach this week, damaging more than 100…
NYPD Hopeful Killed in Connecticut Crash; Driver Deported Twice

NYPD Hopeful Killed in Connecticut Crash; Driver Deported Twice

A 21-year-old college hockey captain who hoped to become a police officer…
California Police Investigate Fatal Shooting at Spirit Halloween Store

California Police Investigate Fatal Shooting at Spirit Halloween Store

One person was killed and at least six others were wounded in…
Holocaust survivor, 95, wins Emmy with defiant message to Hitler: ‘This is my FU’

95-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Wins Emmy in Defiant Message to Hitler

She survived the Holocaust as a child, alone and constantly on the…
California Mileage Tax: How Sacramento Could Track and Charge Drivers

California Mileage Tax: How Sacramento Could Track and Charge Drivers

California motorists could eventually face a road-use charge based on every mile…
Karen Bass Makes Final Reelection Push on LAPD and Housing

Karen Bass Makes Final Reelection Push on LAPD and Housing

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is acknowledging her mistakes and asking voters…
Police Update Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Case as Month 9 Nears

Police Update Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Case as Month 9 Nears

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said Friday that investigators remain focused on…
Daylight Saving Time 2026 Ends Tonight: When to Set Clocks Back and What to Know

Daylight Saving Time 2026 Ends Tonight: When to Set Clocks Back and What to Know

Millions of Americans will gain an hour of sleep this weekend as…
California Spirit Halloween Shooting Leaves 1 Dead, 6 Injured

California Spirit Halloween Shooting Leaves 1 Dead, 6 Injured

One person was killed and six others injured after a shooting at…
Mother Adriana Aviles Says Son Got Fake Grades, Behind in Math

Mother Adriana Aviles Says Son Got Fake Grades, Behind in Math

For 13 years, Adriana Aviles, a passionate education advocate and former NYPD…
Towns Impose Halloween Curfews After Teen Mob Violence, Add Police

Towns Impose Halloween Curfews After Teen Mob Violence, Add Police

Communities nationwide are tightening restrictions on teenagers ahead of Halloween weekend, introducing…