Playpen accident in Chicago: Fire department resumes rescue work for man who fell from boat in Lake Michigan

CHICAGO (WLS) — Rescue workers are expected to resume their rescue efforts late Sunday morning for a man who reportedly fell from a boat in Lake Michigan and did not resurface Saturday afternoon.

On Saturday, emergency personnel were seen searching the waters near the fenced boating area, also known as the “playpen,” near downtown.

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After the emergency services had searched for the 58-year-old man for about an hour, they called off the search for the night.

A witness who was on the water said the playpen was busy when rescuers arrived on the scene. He described what he saw.

“Suddenly we saw helicopters flying around and lots of ambulances, fire trucks, divers and all that stuff, so we knew something was going on,” said Ted Widen.

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Dave Benjamin, executive director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, said people on the water need to be extra cautious as windy conditions are forecast for Sunday.

“Unfortunately, we see this every year because a lot of people go to the playpen,” Benjamin said. “Alcohol can be involved. It’s very crowded. And a small incident like falling off a boat could have fatal consequences.”

Benjamin said choppy waves can create a very dangerous situation for people on the water.

“We just don’t want family fun at the beach to turn into a tragedy that you have to live with, and it’s going to get even worse tomorrow on Father’s Day,” Benjamin said. “We know there will be a lot of people at the beach. It’s going to be hot. People want to get out and have fun, but leave the inflatables at home. From the south end of Lake Michigan and further north, the water will become more turbulent and there will be several types of dangerous currents.”