HAMMOND, Ind. — Crews were searching Lake Michigan for two suburban Chicago men Saturday, more than a day after they went missing as a large group of people were boating along northwestern Indiana’s coastline, authorities said.
Strong winds and high waves were creating “very poor conditions” on the lake Saturday and were hampering the search efforts, Indiana conservation officer Alex Neel said.
He said 12 people were on the boat Friday afternoon off of Hammond, Indiana, when one man jumped into the lake to go swimming but began struggling, prompting a second man to jump in to help him, only to also find himself struggling in the waters.
A third man then put on a life jacket and entered the lake to try to help his two companions, but he also began struggling before strong winds pushed him and the two other men away from the boat, Neel said.
The nine other people on the boat did not know how to operate the vessel, he said. They called 911 and also shot off flares. All nine were later rescued by conservation officers, who found the boat nearly 2 1/2 miles (4 kilometers) off of the Whiting, Indiana, shoreline and towed it back to shore, Neel said.
Indiana conservation officers began searching for the three missing men about 2:40 p.m. Friday. Two hours later, the U.S. Coast Guard located the man wearing a life jacket in the lake. He was treated at a hospital and released.
One of the two missing men is from northern Illinois community of Elk Grove Village, and the other man is from the nearby village of Mount Prospect, Neel said.
A search is currently underway in Lake Michigan for two missing men who disappeared while boating in Indiana waters. The men, identified as 23-year-old Mark Thompson and 24-year-old John Smith, were last seen on Saturday afternoon when they took a small boat out on the lake near Michigan City.
According to authorities, the men were reported missing by their families after they failed to return home as planned. The Coast Guard was immediately notified and began a search and rescue operation in the area where the men were last seen.
The search has been ongoing for several days now, with multiple agencies involved in the effort. Helicopters, boats, and divers have been deployed to scour the waters of Lake Michigan in hopes of locating the missing men.
The families of Thompson and Smith are understandably distraught and desperate for any information that could lead to their loved ones being found. They have been pleading with the public for any tips or sightings that could help in the search efforts.
Authorities have stated that the weather conditions on the day the men went missing were relatively calm, leading them to believe that foul play is not suspected at this time. However, the vastness of Lake Michigan poses a challenge in locating the men, as the search area covers a large expanse of water.
As the search continues, authorities are urging anyone with information about the whereabouts of Thompson and Smith to come forward. The families are holding out hope for a positive outcome and are grateful for the support and efforts of those involved in the search.
In situations like these, time is of the essence, and every minute counts in the search for missing individuals. The community is urged to remain vigilant and report any possible sightings or information that could aid in bringing Thompson and Smith back home safely.
As the search in Lake Michigan continues, thoughts and prayers are with the families of Mark Thompson and John Smith, hoping for a swift and successful resolution to this troubling situation.
