Tragic Discovery in Lake Michigan
Two missing boaters from Illinois found dead in Lake Michigan, triggering a wave of sorrow. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office communicated the distressing update on Friday, LEAPing onto an incident that began just the previous week.
Discovery of the Bodies
On Friday midday, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Marine Unit and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, engaged in a relentless search, successfully recovered the bodies of the two missing boaters.
The somber discovery unfolded around 12:30 p.m. when a local fisherman made a distress call to 9-1-1 upon locating a body just north of a BP breakwall, around three quarters of a mile from the shore. Upon receiving the report, officers from the Lake County Marine Unit leaped into action, lending their aid to the DNR in retrieving the body.
Shortly thereafter, the DNR located the second body east of the BP breakwall. The recovery operation marked the conclusion of a weeklong search that began when a distress call reported three individuals falling out of their boat and into Lake Michigan.
The Initial Search Operation
Last week, the expansive search area spanned two miles north of Whiting, Indiana. The Lake County Sheriff’s Department Aviation Unit, alongside the United States Coast Guard, had joined hands with DNR in the massive hunt for the missing boaters.
During this initial search, the Coast Guard successfully rescued a male boater, who, fortunately, was wearing a life jacket at the time.
Victims Identified
The victims were publicly identified as 45-year-old Eduardo Rivera Jr., and 32-year-old Salvador Lopez, both hailing from Elk Grove, Ill. The sad news was shared on the Town of Chesterton’s Facebook page.
Amidst the wave of grief, the whole community is joining in expressing their heartfelt condolences and support to the families of Eduardo and Salvador. At the same time, the incident is serving as a harsh reminder of the importance of safety procedures while boating.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is taking the lead in the ongoing investigation around the incident.
Contact Information
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Author: STAFF HERE NOVI WRITER
NOVI STAFF WRITER The NOVI STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENovi.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Novi, Oakland County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Motor City Comic Con, Michigan State Fair, and Novi Home and Garden Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Novi Chamber of Commerce and Novi Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in automotive, technology, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Gentherm, Stoneridge, and Daifuku North America. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
