16-Year-Old Drowned In Lake Michigan Sunday, Officials Said

WAUKEGAN, IL — A 16-year-old boy is dead after drowning in Lake Michigan Sunday evening, officials from the Lake County Coroner's Office said.

Fire officials from Waukegan said in a statement they were called to the lakefront for a possible drowning at around 6:20 p.m. Crews responded with a rescue boat and divers but when they arrived a bystander had already taken the teenager out of the water.

Waukegan Fire Marshall Todd Zupec told Patch the incident occurred near the north break wall at Waukegan Municipal Beach. Officials said witnesses told rescue crews the boy had been underwater for "several minutes" before being taken from the lake.

The coroner's office identified the teenager as 16-year-old Jesus Garcia of Park City. Preliminary results from an autopsy indicated Jesus's death was consistent with drowning.

"Jesus has definitely left his mark in our hearts forever," the description of an online fundraiser created by Garcia's family states. "Our family is devastated, broken, lost of words. Jesus will be very dearly missed during these hard times we would from the bottom of our hearts appreciate anyone who would want to contribute with future funeral expenses."

Paramedics on the scene took Garcia to Vista East Medical Center where he was pronounced dead in the emergency room. The investigation into his death is ongoing.

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