By Ariana Figueroa
Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO — A man died after he tried to rescue a child who had fallen out of a small motor boat Monday afternoon off 63rd Street Beach, authorities said.
Crews were called to the south lakefront just before 12:45 p.m. to rescue a child or children who had apparently been in a boat, according to police.
A 31-year-old man’s body was recovered from the water, according to police, although the Chicago Fire Department’s official Twitter account described the man as initially in “extremely critical” condition when he was taken to a hospital.
An 11-year-old boy was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in good condition.
The man was identified as James R. Hammond, of the 4400 block of North Drake Avenue, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Police said they were conducting a death investigation.
The man was believed to be the father of three children who were on the boat with him when the 11-year-old child fell in the water, fire Deputy District Chief Ron Dorneker, head of marine and dive operations, said.
The boat, which was less than 15 feet long, was out beyond the buoys which mark the closest motorized watercraft can come to shore, he said.
The man went in after the child, and the other two children stayed on the boat, Dorneker said.
Chicago Park District “lifeguards on the beach heard the commotion and were able to quickly row out in a lifeguard rowboat and assist the 11-year-old that was in the water,” who was wearing a life jacket, Dorneker said.
Fire crews initiated a full water rescue, sending a boat and helicopter as well as ground crews to the scene, he said.
The man, who apparently was not wearing a life jacket, was located by helicopter divers. The man was found underwater and was taken to a hospital, according to the fire department.
At the scene, as Chicago police officers closed off a section of the beach with yellow tape, beachgoers were grilling, playing volleyball and huddling together to peer at the group of officers and firefighters near the 63rd Street Beach parking lot.
Some started packing their cars to leave, their July Fourth plans cut short by the accident.
“Guess we’ll head out,” said a mother to her young son as he pouted.
Fire engines, police cars and ambulances rolled out, and family members raced to the hospital. At Comer, a family member declined to be interviewed.
The Chicago Tribune’s Terrence Antonio James contributed.
Copyright 2017 Chicago Tribune
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