“I tried to jump in but I don’t know, I didn’t see her after minute” … Body pulled from Lake Michigan during search for missing swimmer near Foster Beach ID’d
Supporting the Family of Amy Kelts
It is with the utmost shock and sadness that I have to share the unexpected passing of Amy Kelts on June 21st. That evening Amy was swept away in the currents of Lake Michigan. Rescue teams and divers searched for her that night and found her the next morning-June 22nd . Amy was a 20-year-old Daughter, sister, and Amazing Friend to many.
I personally know her from work. She joined our McFamily at Mcdonald’s in 2019. And I and many others had the great opportunity to call her our friend ever since. To me personally, she was like a little sister.
With all of the emotional pain and stress that a death brings, it also brings financial burdens. We are trying to raise money for Her Mother and Brother to help with any costs that will incur and to help wherever needed. Her Father passed away in 2018. Any donations will be sent to her family.
It is in these times of loss and sadness when people come together to help one another make it through, to support the people we care for. Any support you may be able to provide would be greatly appreciated. Please keep Amy and her family in your thoughts and prayers.
By Michelle Gallardo and Christian Piekos WLS
Thursday, June 22, 2023 6:09PM
Body pulled from lake at Foster Beach, 10th drowning so far this year
A woman’s body was pulled from Lake Michigan at Foster Beach Thursday morning, the 10th drowning in the lake so far this year.
CHICAGO (WLS) — Crews searching for a missing 20-year-old woman who was swimming in Lake Michigan near Foster Beach pulled a body from the water Thursday morning.
Chicago Police Marine Unit divers pulled the body out shortly before 10 a.m. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified her as Amy Kelts, 20, of Aurora.
A team of divers carefully searched an area near a pier not too far from the beach for about 40 minutes this morning until that body was recovered. A black body bag was brought to the end of the pier as divers returned to shore.
Police said they responded to the beach around 8:30 p.m. with the fire department to find this 19-year-old who never surfaced. A witness said the woman was struggling to swim to shore before she went under.
First responders later suspended their search.
A witness said the water conditions were too dangerous to try and go after the woman.
“I tried to jump in but I don’t know, I didn’t see her after minute,” Angelo Diaz said. “I tried to like catch myself because the waves are too strong and I don’t know if the waves are gonna end up pushing me under so I just got out of the water.”
Chicago police are calling this an accidental tragedy.
The medical examiner’s office has not confirmed the name and age of the body recovered.
As of Thursday, 10 people have drowned in Lake Michigan so far this year, three in the last week alone, including 7-year-old Onyx Torres in Portage and 18-year-old Pedro at Indiana’s Porter Beach.
“That’s the thing about the water. We’re around it all the time and we usually don’t drown, and so we get this false sense of security,” said Halle Quezada with the Chicago Alliance for Water Safety.
Quezada started the group after witnessing a 13-year-old drown at Loyola Beach nearly five years ago. She has since advocated for more lifeguards and life rings placed in regular intervals along Chicago’s beaches/.
With summer officially here, it’s important to remember that the Chicago Park District says swimming at city beaches is only permitted when there is a lifeguard on-duty from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.
Quezada also said it’s important to pay attention flag colors before getting in the water. But that’s only one part of the puzzle.
“Whatever skills you have, whatever strength or abilities you have, the lake has more,” she said. “And you can’t outrun a current so you have to know drowning survival strategies. Having water safety come through schools and having that repeat messaging that kids get year after year is really what we need to be a water safe community.”
After years of lobbying for it, back in April the Illinois House unanimously approved a bill that would require all schools provide water safety education for grades K through 6. As of now, that bill is still pending in the Senate.
