Excerpts from chicago.cbslocal.com:
A 28-year-old man died after firefighters pulled him from the water near Oak Street Beach early Saturday morning; making him the second victim to die in rough waters in the past 24-hours.
Firefighters were called to Oak Street Beach around 3:45 a.m. where a woman who was in the water was able to get herself out, but firefighters needed to go after the man caught in the waves. They said they had a difficult time rescuing him. The victim was in extremely critical condition when he was pulled out; he was taken to Northwestern Hospital, where he later died.
Why the two were in the water, and how the man drowned, is still under investigation, but fire officials said they think the rip currents currently in Lake Michigan played a role.
The National Weather Service issued a Beach Hazard Statement Friday morning, warning people not to go in the lake along Chicago’s shoreline. 12 of Chicago’s 27 beaches have a swim ban or advisories until further notice.
