Chicago water rescue: Woman rescued, man missing in Lake Michigan at 77th Street near Rainbow Beach, CFD says
Share and Follow

CHICAGO (WLS) — A woman was rescued from the water and a man went missing Thursday in Lake Michigan on the South Side, Chicago fire officials said.

The incident happened near Rainbow Beach in South Shore.

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

For much of the afternoon., teams with the Chicago Fire Department and CPD were searching for a man believed to be missing in the water, and as of 4 p.m., official confirmed it has gone from a rescue operation to a recovery mission.

Chopper 7 was over the scene, where multiple boats and divers were seen conducting a search near the break wall at 77th Street and the lakefront.

Chicago officials said a 33-year-old man and 30-year-old woman who had been meditating went for a swim in the water.

“She had stated that while she was swimming across, they didn’t realize the current was as strong as it was in this area because of the winds coming out of the south right now,” CFD Marine Dive Ops. Dep. District Chief Jason Lach said.

The woman managed to make it to the east break wall and clung to the rocks for a half hour or so, yelling for help, CFD said. Eventually, a passerby heard her call a little after 1 p.m. and called 911.

The woman was taken to University of Chicago hospital in good condition, CFD officials said.

As of Thursday evening, it had been hours since the man was last seen.

Officials are reminding people that with temperatures expected in the 80s this weekend, beaches are closed for the season and there is no swimming allowed in Lake Michigan.

The particular location near South Shore is somewhat secluded. It’s several hundred yards from the main part of Rainbow Beach, which is close so there’s not a lot of people out there.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Key accuser in Alexander brothers rape case dies just one week before federal trial begins: report

Lead Witness in Alexander Brothers’ Federal Trial Passes Away Days Before Court Date: Report

The woman who initially accused Oren and Alon Alexander of rape, a…
Police warn of ‘door kicking challenge’ that can turn viral prank ‘from funny to fatal’

Law Enforcement Issues Caution Over Potentially Dangerous ‘Door Kicking Challenge’ Prank

Florida teens arrested for viral ‘door kick challenge’ In a move highlighting…
Kamala Harris, Chicago news: Ex-VP, Mayor Brandon Johnson join MLK interfaith breakfast honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Kamala Harris and Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson Unite at MLK Interfaith Breakfast to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago commemorated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King…
Former TV anchor accused of stabbing 80-year-old mother to death, telling police she did it to 'save herself'

Ex-TV Anchor’s Murder Case Stalled: Court Finds Her Mentally Unfit to Stand Trial

The legal proceedings against a former TV news anchor, accused of murdering…
Man arrested after pocketing donations for world's most inbred family

Police Detain Man for Allegedly Misusing Donations Intended for Notoriously Inbred Family

A West Virginia-based YouTuber is facing accusations of exploiting a group known…
Bone-crushing dino hookups were all the rage in prehistoric eras

Uncovering Prehistoric Passion: The Intense Mating Rituals of Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs had a surprisingly rough-and-tumble love life, as evidenced by the fossilized…
National Guard troops will likely remain in DC through 2026, official says

National Guard Presence in Washington, D.C. Expected to Continue Until 2026, Official Reports

In a strategic move to maintain security in the nation’s capital, National…
Feds in Minneapolis immigration operation can’t detain or tear gas peaceful protesters, judge rules

Judge Blocks Feds from Detaining or Using Tear Gas on Peaceful Protesters in Minneapolis Immigration Operation

A federal judge in Minnesota has ruled that immigration enforcement officers in…