Chicago – A recreational boating trip turned into a devastating incident early Friday morning as a boat struck a break wall in Lake Michigan and subsequently capsized. The tragic accident resulted in the death of a young woman and left six others hospitalized. Authorities attribute the mishap to strong winds and high waves prevailing at the time of the collision.
According to Chicago Deputy District Fire Chief Jason Lach, the area experienced a significant surge in wind and wave activity, with gusts reaching up to 30 mph (48 kph) when the boat hit the break wall and overturned.
The group of seven boaters was on their way back to the shore at approximately 4 a.m. when the vessel collided with the break wall. The Chicago Fire Department Chief Juan Hernandez informed the Chicago Sun-Times that the boat capsized near the popular “Playpen” area, a well-known gathering spot for boaters near the shoreline.
The tweet below verifies the news:
A woman died and six other people were rescued after a boat hit a breakwall and capsized near the “Playpen” off Oak Street Beach Friday morning. https://t.co/dPF0aXsXOd
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) July 28, 2023
Tragically, a woman in her early twenties lost her life in the incident after becoming trapped under the boat during the capsizing. Following a brief suspension of the search due to adverse weather conditions, authorities were able to recover her body with the assistance of the Chicago police.
Among the survivors were four women and two men, all aged between 20 and 30. Following the accident, they were successfully rescued from Lake Michigan, with one individual managing to swim to shore independently. The six survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention.
As per Chief Hernandez, one of the hospitalized individuals is currently in serious condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, while the others are listed in fair to serious condition.
The authorities are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the boat’s collision with the break wall and are likely to examine the impact of the prevailing weather conditions on the tragic event.
Recreational boating accidents can have devastating consequences, and this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of being cautious and vigilant while navigating water bodies, especially during adverse weather conditions.
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