Information shared by the La Porte County Coroner announces an accidental drowning death in Lake Michigan this week.
The release shares that the Coroner’s Office is reporting the death of Taha Badar, age 15, of East Brunswick, New Jersey.
Badar was involved in a drowning accident that took place Monday, August 17th. According to reports, multiple area agencies received calls around 2pm stating there was a swimmer struggling in the water.
Badar was transported to a hospital in Michigan City following the incident. Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
The release notes that several agencies responded to this call, including the Michigan City Fire Department and Dive Team, La Porte County EMS, Michigan City Police, La Porte County Sheriff, Coast Guard, DNR, and Washington Park Lifeguards.
The National Weather Service notes that dangerous currents and breaking waves are common at Lake Michigan, and that before entering the water, swimmers should check weather conditions, beach-hazard forecasts, and obey posted warnings or instructions in regards to swimming conditions.
NWS shares that anyone caught in a dangerous current should remember “Flip, Float, Follow”: flip onto your back, float to keep your head above water (and conserve energy), and follow the current while determining the safest way out. Do not fight by swimming directly against a current carrying you out. Rather, try to swim perpendicular to the shoreline until free of the current, then head towards the shore.
