Chesterton, IN – The body of a teen swimmer who went missing in Lake Michigan off Kemil Beach on Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 6, has been recovered, Porter County Coroner Cyndi Dykes reports.
The body was found shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday near the beach breakwall at Cleveland Cliffs in Burns Harbor. Dykes identified the victim as Max Moras Loeza, 17, of Eagan, Minn. “The Porter County Coroner’s Office extends our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Dykes said.
The search for Loeza began on Tuesday when he was reported missing off Beverly Shores. According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), at 2:10 p.m., Loeza was one of multiple swimmers seen to be in distress near the intersection of West Lake Front Drive and C.R. 300E.
Numerous agencies responded to the scene, rescuing two distressed swimmers and providing medical attention to a Good Samaritan on shore. However, Loeza remained unaccounted for, last seen approximately 300 feet from shore. Rescuers faced large waves that hindered their search efforts.
A shore-based search was initiated with the use of drones, while vessels from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Lake County Sheriff’s Marine Unit assisted offshore. “Search efforts will continue contingent on water conditions,” the DNR said.
Assisting agencies included National Park Service Rangers, Beverly Shores Fire Department, Beverly Shores Police Department, Burns Harbor Fire Department, Chesterton Fire Department, Northwest Health EMS, Portage Fire Department, Portage Police Department, Porter Fire Department, and Porter County Sheriff’s Police.
