Atwater Park Drowning Would Have Come After Lifeguard Hours

SHOREWOOD, WI — A 14-year-old boy's fateful jump into the Lake Michigan waters happened at about 6 p.m. Tuesday, and led to his tragic drowning.

This tragedy came too late for rescuers who hurriedly responded to Shorewood's Atwater Park on Tuesday night. In any other summer, the boy's tragic leap would have also come outside of typical lifeguard hours at the beach.

Earlier this year, officials stated that Atwater Beach would have no lifeguard staffing for the first time in five years. Typical hours have traditionally been 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for lifeguard staffing.

In 2012, Shorewood began providing several lifeguards at Atwater Beach during the third weekend of June to the third weekend of August every day from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. These lifeguards had been staffed by Milwaukee County Parks who provided specific waterfront and beach training and certification.

This year, Milwaukee County Parks received fewer applications for lifeguard positions and will staff the county’s two water parks, eleven public swimming pools and Bradford Beach, but are unable to provide lifeguard resources to other communities like Shorewood.

The Village of Shorewood did evaluate other options but determined that the most feasible solution this year was to return to its previous ‘swim at your own risk’ policy that is used by most Wisconsin beaches.

The Tragic Jump

According to authorities, the boy jumped into the lake off a high breaker wall just north of the park's public beach area.

When the boy did not resurface, the group of friends he was with called 911.

"It's awful:" 14-year-old boy drowns at Atwater Park Beach in Shorewood: https://t.co/givuZIX0kp pic.twitter.com/2zjJodYSNw — FOX6 News (@fox6now) July 19, 2017

The Milwaukee Fire Department's dive team was dispatched and located the boy approximately 40 minutes later, North Shore Fire/Rescue Lt. Dan Tyk said in a Journal Sentinel report.

Emergency workers attempted to resuscitate the boy, but were unsuccessful, Tyk said.

Shorewood officials urge the public to understand that lake waters - especially undercurrents - can be dangerous even for the most experienced swimmers.
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image via shutterstock