A 7-year-old boy from Chicago lost his life after drowning along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Porter County during hazardous beach conditions.

The child was playng in the water, near the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk Beach. However, he ventured into deeper waters. A witness observed that the child became caught in a strong current, which pulled him away from the shore.

In an attempt to rescue the boy, a family member entered the water but also got caught in the powerful current, losing sight of the child in the process.

After approximately 20 minutes of search and rescue, first responders discovered the boy’s body near Ogden Dunes.

The boy’s identity has not been disclosed at this time, pending notification of relatives.