Man dies after being pulled from lake at Illinois Beach State Park: ‘They need lifeguards’

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A man reportedly seen jumping from the rock breakwaters at Illinois Beach State Park was pulled from the water by bystanders before being pronounced dead late Sunday afternoon.

According to a Lake County Sheriff’s Office statement, at about 4:35 p.m., deputies responded to the park for a report of a possible drowning. Preliminary information indicates a man had been seen jumping from the rocks for several minutes. Afterwards, witnesses saw him floating farther from shore, and bystanders brought him back to shore as deputies arrived.

Deputies began CPR; however, the man was “unresponsive and cold to the touch.” Zion and Beach Park fire department personnel arrived shortly thereafter and continued lifesaving efforts. The man was transported to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, the release said. An investigation by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is underway.

Since the completion of the breakwaters in 2024 — meant to protect the beaches from erosion and provide habitat for more than a thousand plant and animal species — they’ve been the source of local controversy over safety.

Water safety advocates have warned the breakwaters create stronger, more dangerous currents around them, and draw curious swimmers who don’t understand their dangers. The restoration effort has also made the beaches more popular, another potential cause for an increase in incidents seen since their installation.

For local fire departments, two seasons of increased water emergency calls strained limited resources and led to joint news conferences where local fire chiefs admonished the state for failing to help address the issue.

One of the key issues raised — state funding for a new rescue boat — was recently cleared up, according to Winthrop Harbor Fire Chief Rocco Campanella, who has been vocal in his criticisms related to the issue.

Over the summer, with the help of state Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, Winthrop Harbor and Zion secured funding for a shared rescue vessel, Campanella said, with the understanding that it responds to incidents at Illinois Beach as well.

Previously, in response to the increase in water incidents, the IDNR added informational signage and warnings that no lifeguards are on duty, written in multiple languages, as well as 50 new signs with throw rings and rope bags.

But despite the new vessel, safety equipment, and signage, Campanella warned that the beaches still need lifeguards.

“We’ve got our boat, we’re doing very good now, and we’re very appreciative of that, but they need lifeguards,” he said.

While setting up lifeguards along the beach has been raised previously, many have noted the difficulty of such an effort, including Campanella, given the miles of beach. The IDNR did not immediately provide additional comments regarding lifeguards at the Illinois Beach State Park.

If reports that the victim was jumping from the rocks are true, Campanella said people have to understand the risks. They need to “respect the lake” and “know your limitations.”

“There are signs posted everywhere to stay off the rocks — you don’t know what’s underneath when you jump in; there could be more rocks that you don’t see,” he said. “They’re slippery now; if you slip and fall and hit your head on the rocks, it turns into a major rescue response.”