Dive team returns to Lake Michigan to continue recovery effort for teen near IL Beach State Park after boy knocked into water
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BEACH PARK, Ill. (WLS) — A dive team returned to Lake Michigan Wednesday morning to continue a recovery effort for a missing teenager in the north suburbs.

The boy fell in the water Tuesday afternoon at Illinois Beach State Park.

The search will resume on Thursday, officials said.

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The Beach Park Fire Department searched south of the state park Wednesday.

They have pinpointed areas where they believe the 14-year-old boy could be.

After searching for multiple hours Tuesday, it is now a recovery operation.

Wednesday morning, crews launched boats from Winthrop Harbor, and plan on using sonar technology in the hopes of finding the boy.

Fire officials say they got a call around 4 p.m. Tuesday, for someone in the water in need of help at Illinois Beach State Park.

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Witnesses reported seeing the boy either sitting or standing along the rocks, when he was hit by a wave and knocked into Lake Michigan.

Those who were in the area when it happened, say the family was visiting from Wisconsin, and the father was swimming at the time.

Several neighboring agencies were called to help, and search for the missing boy.

“We have possible locations where we think he might have washed to. So, we are going to check those. We are going to check some areas that we think he might be underwater still. We are going to have boats mark those areas, and then divers go in and check those areas,” Beach Park Fire Chief Tom Stahl said.

Stahl said one of the challenges crews and swimmers are faced with is that Lake Michigan can be unpredictable.

The waves and wind can cause dangerous conditions, and people should use extra caution.

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