The body of a 17-year-old boy from Eagan, Minnesota, who disappeared while swimming in Lake Michigan off of Kemil Beach in Beverly Shores on Tuesday, was recovered Thursday morning, officials said.
The Porter County Coroner’s Office identified the teen as Max Moras Loeza.
At approximately 7:54 a.m. on Thursday, the coroner’s office was dispatched to the beach break wall area of Cleveland Cliffs, in Burns Harbor, for a body that had been discovered. Officials determined it was the missing swimmer.
Porter County 911 received a call at 2:10 p.m. on Aug. 6 about multiple swimmers in distress near the intersection of County Road 300 East and West Lake Front Drive in Beverly Shores, according to a release from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division.
Responders from multiple agencies arrived and located two distressed swimmers and a good Samaritan onshore requiring medical attention. Emergency medical services transported the three individuals, who were in stable condition.
Emergency personnel confirmed a third swimmer was unaccounted for and last seen approximately 300 feet from shore. Rescue personnel attempted to enter the water to search but were hindered by large waves.
A shore-based search was initiated with drones, as vessels from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit assisted in the offshore search.
A beach hazards statement was in effect at the time of the incident, with waves of 6 to 9 feet forecasted. The hazardous conditions continued on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service Chicago, when waves of 3 to 5 feet were visible and expected to be “life threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers.” No search vessels were visible on Wednesday morning at the beach.
Other agencies assisting included Indiana Dunes National Park Rangers, Beverly Shores Fire Department, Beverly Shores Police Department, Burns Harbor Fire Department, Chesterton Fire Department, Northwest Health EMS, Portage Fire Department, Portage Police Department, Porter Fire Department and Porter County Sheriff’s Office.
