13-year-old boy found dead after going missing in Lake Michigan amid dangerous waves

The body of a 13-year-old boy has been recovered after he went missing amid dangerous conditions in Lake Michigan in Indiana on Monday evening, officials said.

Indiana Conservation Officers started a search shortly before 7 a.m. Wednesday using boats, sonar equipment and dive teams, said Indiana Conservation Officer Alex Neel of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

At about 7:45 a.m., a diver found the boy's body near the Michigan City Lighthouse Pier, Neel said.

His death is believed to be from drowning, Neel said, adding that the final cause of death will be determined by the coroner.

The boy had been swimming with friends at Washington Park Beach in Michigan City on Monday evening -- after lifeguards had left for the day -- when he began struggling in the water, Neel said. One of the friends tried to help but was unable to reach him because of the dangerous conditions, Neel said.

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At the time, winds were blowing at about 20 mph, creating waves of 4 to 6 feet, officials said. The National Weather Service issued a Beach Hazards Statement warning of potentially hazardous conditions and waves as high as 8 feet.

Officials said they believe the boy was caught in a strong current. He was believed to be in a bend where currents can move in different directions, creating dangerous conditions that can pull swimmers away from shore and further into the lake, officials said.

The rough water conditions complicated the initial search efforts, with four divers suffering injuries during Monday evening's rescue operations, officials said.