Aquatics Underwater Recovery And Rescue Inc.

05/14/2025

04/29/2025

Man Recovered From Lake Michigan Monday

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating after the body of a missing angler was recovered yesterday afternoon from Lake Michigan, according to Conservation Officers.

Shortly after 11:30 AM, Porter County Central Communications received a 911 call reporting that a man identified as Michael Barnes, 67, of Valparaiso, had gone under the surface of the water approximately 60 yards from shore near Burns Ditch after attempting to retrieve his boat, which had drifted from a beach area as he fished from shore.

Multiple private fishing vessels began searching the area, joined by an Indiana Dunes National Park Ranger who boarded one of the vessels and relayed information to the United States Coast Guard, Lake County Sheriff’s Department Marine and Aviation Units, and Indiana Conservation Officers.

At 1:40 PM, using an unmanned remotely operated vehicle equipped with sonar and video, conservation officers located Barnes, whom Portage Fire Department divers recovered from the water. Barnes was pronounced dead at the scene.

Other assisting agencies included Portage Police Department, Portage Fire Department, Porter Fire Department, Burns Harbor Fire Department, Ogden Dunes Fire Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Department Marine and Aviation Units, Porter County Dive Team, Hobart Dive Team, Merrillville Dive Team, Porter County Coroner’s Office, and chaplains from the Portage Police Department and Indiana DNR Division of Law Enforcement.

03/25/2025

03/25/2025

03/21/2025

One Rescued By Good Samaritan and One Dead After Boat Capsizes On Lake Michigan

Sometime around 1:30, Friday afternoon, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Marine and Aviation Units were dispatched to a call for a report of a boat that had flipped over in Lake Michigan, according to Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. The scene was near the steel mill in East Chicago. When the Sheriff’s Department Aviation Unit arrived, the boat was approximately 1 mile offshore, Martinez said.

A Good Samaritan in another boat pulled a survivor from the water before arrival of rescue crews, Martinez said. He was transported to an area hospital. At the time, one person was still unaccounted for. That man, approximately 73-years-old was located in the water and is deceased. The Sheriff Marine Unit is in the process of recovering him from the water.

At this time, it’s believed the men went fishing earlier this morning when the boat capsized. The high winds and rough waves on the lake are creating a hazardous situation for small watercraft.

First responders and Dive Teams from several agencies also responded to this scene and assisted with the rescue.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is investigating.

02/24/2025

01/27/2025

UTV’s Sink In Cedar Lake After Going On Unsafe Ice

On Sunday, January 26, 2025, the Cedar Lake Police responded to an off-road vehicle that had broken through the ice on the north end near Potawatomi Park and Meyer Manor, according to Cedar Lake Police. It should be noted this had nothing to do with the ice races on the other side of the lake as reported by other outlets.

Upon arrival of officers, the operator and his son were safe on shore; however, they found themselves in deep water, and the Polaris UTV was sunken to the roof.

The incident attracted other off-road vehicles and before police could get them away another two-wheel off-road vehicle broke through the ice and sank. That operator got onto another UTV and fled the scene. Anyone with information about the operator of the white two-wheel drive off- road vehicle is asked to contact Cedar Lake Police.

Both off-road vehicles remain sunk and frozen in the lake, with a recovery planned for
today. This area of the lake from shore to shore is not safe or frozen, with open water. Water runs naturally under the ice from inlet to inlet, causing shelf-ice and open water.

This incident points out the dangers of being on ice, especially with heavy vehicles.

The ice races today attracted a large number of spectators who brought their off-road vehicles on the opposite side of the lake. The designated area for that ice race was safe and regulated by those officials. They had no control over what others do outside of that event.

“As a reminder, those who bring off-road vehicles must have them registered to be on property other than their own. Off-road vehicles are illegal to operate on any roadway; this event does not exclude you from those laws or ordinances. This incident has been turned over to DNR who were also on scene.”

11/22/2024

Update To Last Nights Accident In Dyer

On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at approximately 5:47 PM, the Dyer Police and
Fire Departments were dispatched to the 800 Block of Flagstone Drive for a report of a
vehicle in the water.

Upon arrival officers located a vehicle in the water directly north of the parking area of 867 Flagstone Drive. A search of the area had negative results locating the driver. The MABAS 207 Dive Team and Lake County Sherrif’s Aviation Team were requested to assist with the search.

The search of the waterway and surrounding area had a negative result in locating the driver. Dyer Investigators worked through the night in an attempt to locate the driver, with negative results.

On Thursday, November 21, 2024, at approximately 8:45 am, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) arrived on the scene to assist in the search for the driver. With use of their sonar, they were able to locate the driver in the waterway.

Upon locating the driver, the MABAS 207 Dive Team was dispatched to the scene, to recover
the driver. The Lake County Coroner’s Office arrived on scene to conduct their investigation.

The Lake County Coroner has identified the deceased as Blessed S. Asukwo, 46, of Lansing. Asukwo was born in Nigeria. The death was ruled accidental.

If anyone has any information about this incident, please contact the Dyer Police Department (219) 865-1163.

07/27/2024

07/13/2024

Missing Boaters Recovered From Lake Michigan Friday Near BP In Whiting

Indiana Conservation Officers were called to Whihala Beach Friday afternoon, around 1 PM, to make the recovery of 2 bodies who went missing after jumping into Lake Michigan.

The bodies of Eduardo Rivera Jr., 45, and Salvador Lopez, 32, both of Elk Grove, Ill., were recovered this afternoon from Lake Michigan. Both victims were located approximately one and a half miles from where they were last seen on July 5.

Around 2:30 PM, July 5th, Lake County Sheriff Officers, Indiana Conservation Officers, Hammond Fire Department, and Coast Guard Officials were called to Lake Michigan for boaters in distress.

The caller advised 911 that one of the riders had jumped into the water to swim and began to struggle. The male who jumped in was not wearing a life jacket at the time, according to Conservation Officers. Two other males, one of which was the captain of the boat, jumped in to assist the man but only one of these two men were wearing a life jacket. During that time all 3 males began to struggle while the boat began to drift further away. The 9 other occupants on the boat attempted to throw numerous life jackets into the water but were unsuccessful in reaching the men.

The exact location of the boat was unknown and first responders searched for approximately 30 minutes before locating the boat about a mile off shore from the Inland break wall. The water is approximately 33 feet deep in this area.

The first responders including 3 helicopters began to search a vast area not knowing where exactly the men had gone in it. One male wearing a life jacket was rescued around 4:30 PM and transported to a local hospital. The other two males are believed to have gone under shortly after jumping in.

The 9 other passengers on the boat were brought to the Hammond Marina and were in shock. 5 of these 9 are believed to be juveniles who watched their fathers struggle in the water.

07/07/2024

The search continues today on Lake Michigan for two missing boaters near Whiting. Waves are currently 2-4 feet and expected to build due to the north wind, according to Conservation Officers. This greatly hampers search efforts and could create rip currents.

Be careful if venturing out on Lake Michigan or any of its beaches today. Officers strongly encourage all to wear their life jackets while in and around the water.