Dangerous conditions in Lake Michigan led officials in northwest Indiana to suspend the search for child who went into the water at a beach Monday night and didn’t resurface, with four rescue divers sustaining injuries amid high waves and “challenging water conditions.”
The incident unfolded about 5:43 p.m. at Washington Park Beach in Michigan City, with Michigan City Police responding to the beach for a possible drowning. Witnesses say they saw a child wearing red shorts enter the water on the east side of the catwalk just south of the lighthouse and then disappear beneath the surface.
Multiple agencies immediately responded to the scene, including the Michigan City Fire Department, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the LaPorte County Emergency Medical Service. Four specialized divers from MCFD and one from the DNR went into the water to search for the child, police said, with a fishing charter boat and drones also used.
The search came as all Lake Michigan beaches in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan were under a high swim risk, with a beach hazards statement from the National Weather Service in effect. The statement warned of dangerous waves as high as five feet, and “life threatening currents.”
Such challenging water conditions “significantly complicated search efforts,” police said. About 10:44 p.m., police posted an update saying dive operations had been suspended “due to hazardous conditions that posed a risk to responder safety.”
According to the update, three of the four MCFD divers sustained minor injuries during the search and were transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation. A DNR diver was also injured, police said, and was evaluated on scene.
“Strong currents, changing wave action, and limited visibility beneath the water can quickly overwhelm even experienced swimmers and rescuers,” police said. “We urge everyone to pay close attention to beach conditions, heed all posted warnings, and stay out of the water when hazardous conditions are present.”
According to the NWS, a moderate swim risk was in effect Tuesday for beaches in the southeastern part of Lake Michigan in Indiana due to breaking waves and lingering currents.
It wasn’t immediately clear if or when search efforts would resume. The incident remains ongoing, police said.
According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, there have been 23 Great Lakes drownings to date in 2026. 12 of those, the site showed, have been in Lake Michigan.
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