Community Corner
2 Stagg High School Students, 1 Adult Drown In Indiana
Stagg High School and the Muslim community are left stunned after two teens drowned swimming in Lake Michigan rip currents on Aug. 16.
PALOS HILLS, IL — The southwest suburbs’ Muslim community is stunned by the loss of two teens who drowned while swimming off the Indiana shoreline last weekend. Authorities said the teens had apparently gotten caught up in dangerous rip currents in Lake Michigan.
Mohammed Obied, 16, of Bridgeview, was about to enter his senior year at Stagg High School in Palos Hills. His friend, Yousef Saleh, 18, had just graduated from Stagg in June. Both were with a group of five people in distress in the water as result of strong rip currents, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement.
Around 10:45 a.m. Aug. 16, authorities said that a group of five teens were swimming off the lakefront near Portage Riverwalk when waves pulled them under. A good Samaritan riding a jet ski helped pull two swimmers out of the water, while the other two managed to swim out of the currents, the Northwest Indiana Times reported.
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Obied’s body was recovered near the river walk on Monday, according to news reports. Saleh was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. He succumbed to his injuries on Aug. 18.
In a separate incident, 21-year-old Moath Nagi, of Rockford was also rescued Aug 16 after being underwater for an extended period of time near off Portage Beach. Nagi died in the ICU later that evening.
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The National Weather Service issued a beach hazards statement last Sunday for shores along Lake and Porter counties, predicting waves of 3 to 5 feet, and strong currents. Authorities performed several water rescues last weekend due to hazardous currents.
Stagg principal Eric Olsen emailed families on Friday sharing with them “the passing of two Stagg Chargers.”
“Our community mourns the loss of these young men, and we will miss all that they brought to this world. Their energy and love for their friends and community energized our school. They are forever Chargers and will always remain in our hearts.”
The Mosque Foundation Community Center in Bridgeview is planning an outdoor “prayer and reflection night” for Naji, Obied and Saleh on Saturday.
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