Indiana DNR law enforcement released information on two separate incidents off Washington Park Beach in Michigan City the weekend of June 19-20: one the drowning of a girl, and one the rescue of a girl who was later reported in critical condition.
Drowning
Less than a week after a Portage man drowned after saving his girlfriend off the beach, a second drowning has occurred there. The Indiana DNR reports that a girl drowned Saturday, June 19, 2o21.
The DNR did not release the name or age of the girl, who was found in the water at about 9:50 p.m. by Michigan City Fire Department divers. Emergency personnel had been called to the beach at about 9:10 p.m.
DNR officers learned that the girl and two of her family members were in the water when a wave struck them and pulled them into deeper water. Nearby good Samaritans were able to help two of the swimmers, but not the girl.
The girl was transported to Franciscan Hospital in Michigan City, where she was pronounced deceased.
Besides DNR and Michigan City Fire, other responders were Michigan City Police, La Porte County EMS, Indiana State Police, La Porte County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Coast Guard.
Girl recovered
On Sunday afternoon, June 20, an unresponsive 14-year-old girl was pulled from the water off the beach. The girl, from Dayton, Ohio, was pulled from the water at about 1 p.m., the DNR stated.
Emergency responders had gotten a call of several people struggling in the water. They rescued several juveniles and determined the girl was still missing. After about 10 minutes, a jet-ski operator spotted the girl under the surface and alerted a nearby diver from the Michigan City Fire Department.
The girl was recovered and transported to Franciscan Hospital by ambulance, where she was stabilized before being transported by helicopter to South Bend Memorial Hospital for further treatment. She was in critical condition and her identity was being withheld.
Besides DNR and Michigan City Fire, responding were Michigan City Police, La Porte County EMS, La Porte County Sheriff’s Office, and United States Coast Guard.