3 Drownings This Week On Lake Michigan; Swim Ban At 25 Beaches

CHICAGO — Three men have drowned in Lake Michigan over the last several days, and the Chicago Park District this weekend implemented a swim ban at 25 Chicag0-area beaches in response to dangerous conditions.

On Friday, the National Weather Service also warned of dangerous conditions and life-threatening currents at Lake Michigan beaches. The swim portion of the Chicago Triathlon was also cancelled on Sunday.

Another warning was in place Monday, when the NWS said waves of three to six feet high and strong rip currents presented life-threatening conditions on the lake. "People visiting the beaches should stay out of the water," NWS said.

According to ABC Chicago, two men were pulled out of the lake Sunday by the Chicago Police Department marine unit after jumping into the water in Lincoln Park. One of the men, age 26, was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The other man refused treatment.

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On Saturday, 15 people were pulled out of the lake in Waukegan in two separate incidents. In one incident, 14 people wound up in the water after falling off a boat. In another incident, witnesses told authorities that a man had fallen off his jet ski and not resurfaced, according to the Sun-Times. He was taken to an area hospital and later died, ABC reported.

And on Thursday, a 35-year-old man, later identified as Rene Padilla, drowned as he attempted to save his 12-year-old daughter after she was swept off the jetty at 31st Street Beach, WGN reported. The girl was rescued by a lifeguard, who also attempted to revive Padilla. The father was eventually pronounced dead.

Another drowning happened in Chicago's Lincoln Park Lagoon over the weekend when a 29-year-old man jumped in to save his dog and did not resurface.