A young boy from Chicago tragically lost his life on Thursday after being swept away by currents in Lake Michigan, near the shoreline of northwestern Indiana. The incident occurred amidst hazardous beach conditions, according to authorities.

The 7-year-old was playing in the lake near the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk Beach when he ventured into deeper water and was seemingly caught in a current. A relative attempted a rescue but also struggled against the strong currents and lost sight of the child.

Emergency responders from various agencies were dispatched around 4:50 p.m. CDT and located the boy approximately 20 minutes later near Ogden Dunes. He was rushed to a hospital but sadly pronounced dead later that evening. An autopsy conducted Friday morning confirmed the cause of death as accidental drowning.

At the time of the incident, the National Weather Service had issued a beach hazard statement. Indiana conservation officers are continuing their investigation into the tragic event. The boy's name is being withheld until his family is notified.