Teen pulled from Lake Michigan at 31st Street Beach dies

ByRob Elgas WLS logo
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Teen pulled from Lake Michigan dies
A teenage boy died after he was pulled from Lake Michigan at 31st Street Beach on Friday evening.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A teenage boy has died after he was pulled from Lake Michigan at 31st Street Beach on Friday evening, officials said.

"I just want everyone to send prayers out for my grandson, that's all. That's all I have to say. That's it," said Nianna Jackson, victim's grandmother.

The boy's family identified him as Eddie Horns, 17. He was rushed to Mercy Hospital in critical condition, where he died.

"We deployed three dive teams in the water. We found the victim in about 12 foot of water," said Chief Michael Fox, Chicago Fire Dept.

Divers worked fast and were able to locate Horns in about five minutes. They worked around the water conditions to find him.

"The visibility isn't perfect down there, although it's only 12 foot of water, it's still pretty stirred up in there and with other people coming in, it's still pretty murky," Fox said.

Witness Larry Hatter brought his family to the beach for an evening barbecue. He says it was difficult to watch what unfolded right in front of them.

"His mom and his family was there and they were yelling like yelling the boy's name, that's when they started the boy's name," Hatter said.

The fire department said two joggers also tried to save Horns, but were unable to see him under the murky water.