37-Year-Old Man Drowns in Lake Michigan

Date: July 29, 2013
Contact: Ken Mehne, 219-395-1658

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE: The National Park Service, Beverly Shores Police Department, Beverly Shores Fire Department and the Porter Fire Department Dive Rescue team rescued three members of a family that were swimming in the park at Lake View Beach on Saturday.

At approximately 5:30 p.m. a visitor saw someone in the water struggling in waves of about 3 – 5 feet in height. They called the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Dispatch Center to report that a man was having trouble in the high waves and that family members were attempting to reach him. First Responders were able to rescue two family members who were in the water and get them safely to shore. Rescuers then located a third victim floating in the surf approximately 40 yards to the west about 10 feet from shore. Rescuers pulled the man from the water and found him unresponsive. CPR was started and an AED was applied. The victim, identified as Gonzola Silva of Lafayette, Indiana, was then transported to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Michigan City, Indiana. Silva, 37, was initially listed in critical condition upon arrival to the hospital and had a pulse and was placed on a respirator. Initial reports are that Silva was under the water approximately 20 minutes before being pulled to shore.

At approximately 9:30 pm Central time on July 27, 2013 Mr. Silva was pronounced dead by doctors from St. Anthony’s Hospital.

The National Weather Service had issued a Hazardous Beach Advisory for Saturday afternoon throughMonday morning with waves expected to be in the range of 4-5 feet.

www.nps.gov/indu

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is part of the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 398 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.