Search underway for missing Lake Michigan boater near Oak Street Beach in Chicago – NBC Chicago

The search for a missing boater in Chicago's Lake Michigan “park” area was called off Saturday evening, authorities said.

Around 4:23 p.m., Chicago police responded to the 1000 block of North Lake Shore Drive after a 58-year-old man fell off a boat and into the lake, police said. Dive teams spent hours searching the waters, but suspended their efforts as night fell.

The search, which lasted several hours, was one of three water incidents Chicago rescue crews responded to Saturday.

Amid the hot weather and intense water activities, Dave Benjamin of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project reminds boaters to avoid alcohol and make sure they wear life jackets.

“The water is still quite cold. Cold water can make it difficult for a person to swim, especially when they are jumping out of the boat and haven't tested the water yet,” he said.

In the coming weeks, boaters and beachgoers should expect heavy boat traffic on the lake, as well as very hot weather and high winds. Benjamin explained that the number of drownings generally increases when the four “Ws” are present: hot, wind, waves and weekends.

Information on other water-related incidents that occurred Saturday was not immediately available.