Video Shows Dramatic Rescue of Windsurfer Near Evanston Lakefront

EVANSTON, IL - The dramatic rescue of a windsurfer from about two miles off the shore of Lake Michigan near Evanston’s Lee Street Beach was captured on a U.S. Coast Guard boat camera.

The search took about an hour late Monday afternoon. It began at 4:30 p.m. when the windsurfer’s mast and sail snapped about a mile off the shore, according to an ABC-7-Chicago report.

The Coast Guard had to battle choppy waves and strong winds on an unseasonably warm fall day in the Chicago area.

READ MORE: Windsurfer Rescued Off Lake Michigan Shore Monday Afternoon

The windsurfer was able to utilize a waterproof cell phone to get in contact with the Evanston Fire Department, who helped relay information on his location to the U.S. Coast Guard. He was brought to safety at 5:35 p.m., just about a half-hour before the sunset that night.

The Chicago Fire Department and an NBC 5 helicopter assisted in the rescue effort.

photo via YouTube screenshot