Bodies of 2 Missing Men in Lake Michigan Recovered, DNR Confirms

Lake Michigan, July 12, 2024 — In a tragic turn of events, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirmed that the bodies of two Illinois men, reported missing last week from Lake Michigan, were recovered on Friday.

Discovery by a Local Fisherman

A local fisherman alerted the authorities at approximately 12:20 PM on Friday upon discovering a body north of a BP breakwall. Following this disturbing call, officers from the Lake County Marine Unit responded swiftly, assisting the DNR in retrieving the body. In the same vicinity, but east of the BP breakwall, the DNR officials located the second man.

Profiles of the Deceased

The two men, Eduardo Rivera Jr., 45, and Salvador Lopez, 32, hailing from Elk Grove in Illinois, were found around a mile and a half away from where they were last seen on July 5. A group of twelve people were on a boat trip near Hammond when the series of unfortunate events began.

The Unraveling of the Tragedy

The preliminary investigations led by Indiana Conservation Officer Alex Neel revealed a series of unfortunate events. “One of the men jumped into the lake to swim, only to encounter difficulties in water,” Neel explained. Other occupants attempted to aid the struggling swimmer; consequently, another individual jumped into the lake. Unfortunately, he too started to struggle in the water.

The dire situation led to a third participant throwing on a life jacket and leaping in to assist. However, due to the heavy wind and waves, the trio drifted apart. The two men, Lopez and Rivera, who were not wearing life vests began to sink into the depths of Lake Michigan.

The occupants aboard the boat dialed 911, and conservation officers began their search operation at approximately 2:40 PM last Friday. The U.S. Coast Guard successfully discovered the third man, equipped with the flotation device, and promptly transported him to the hospital for medical treatment. He was discharged later that night.

Affected Families and Further Investigations

The Lake County Sheriff’s Department expressed its condolences, stating, “Our hearts go out to all of the friends and family members affected by this case.” It further confirmed that the DNR would be continuing with the investigation into how this tragic event unfolded.