First responders calling for water rescue funding in north Chicago suburbs
North suburban Chicago rescue crews held a press conference on Monday morning to demand more funding for water rescue efforts.
With the extreme heat, hundreds of people flocked to the lakefront over the weekend. However, safety advocates said they responded to at least a dozen water rescues and possible drownings, including at Navy Pier, 63rd Street, Beach, and the Playpen.
Incidents on the water
At 63rd Street Beach, rescue crews are searching for a man fire crews said fell off a boat and is still missing.
At the Playpen, just north of Ohio Street Beach, another man was sent to the hospital in serious condition after he hurt his foot in the water.
At Navy Pier, a 27-year-old Zahrie Walls fell off a boat and was later located by the U.S. Coast Guard, about a mile and a half offshore. They pulled her from the water, but she later died at an area hospital.
On Sunday, fire officials said a boat caught fire with at least 20 people on board. No one ended up in the water, and no injuries were reported.
First responders say more water rescue funding is needed
In the northern suburbs, fire departments like Winthrop Harbor and Zion said they are responding to water rescues but lack the resources to do so properly.
Last week, a 20-year-old man drowned at Illinois Beach State Park.
"First responder agencies, we realize we are on the other side of the 911 call, even though we may not have liability or jurisdiction, we are going to respond and mitigate that situation, Zion fire investigator Justin Stried said.
"We are expected to respond to drownings, boating accidents, and other water emergencies with outdated equipment, limited training, and inadequate staffing," Winthrop firefighter Rocco Campanella said.
About two million people visit the state park yearly, and the agencies said their call volumes are rising.
First responders said they need support from Lake County and the state for funding.
