The National Weather Service has a beach hazards statement in effect until 10 p.m. Sunday, and the high waves led to Evanston Fire Department water rescue crews saving three people in two separate incidents this weekend.
Fire Division Chief Kimberly Kull says two male Northwestern University students were throwing a football at Clark Street Beach just before 7 a.m. Sunday when the ball went into the water.
One student chased the ball into the water to retrieve it, but the current pulled him out. The second student ran into the water to save his friend, but found himself pulled away from the shore.
Kull says Fire Department rescue swimmers and jet skis searched for the two and pulled them safely to shore where they were evaluated for injuries and released on the scene.
Saturday evening, fire department personnel rescued a 37-year-old Chicago man two miles offshore from Dempster Street Beach.
He’d been kayaking while watching the Chicago Air Show when high waves filled his kayak with water. He decided to leave his kayak and entered the water around 1 p.m., but fire crews weren’t called until around 7:30 p.m.
EFD personnel rescued the swimmer just before dusk with no reported injuries. Evanston lifeguards, the U.S. Coast Guard and Chicago Fire Department divers also participated in that search..
The weather service says high wave action and dangerous currents are making swimming conditions life threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers, through this evening.