19-Year-old Northwestern Student Dies After Lake Michigan Rescue in Evanston

WHO:

ABC7 Chicago - The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the victim was a 19-year-old woman.

ABC7 Chicago - Northwestern University confirmed the woman was a student and was not from the Evanston area.

CBS News - Northwestern University confirmed the victim was a student; CBS News Chicago said it was not identifying her out of respect for her family’s wishes.

CBS News - A Northwestern spokesperson said, “Our thoughts are with the student's family and friends. The University is providing support services to impacted community members.”

ABC7 Chicago - Members of the Evanston Fire Department and Evanston police responded to the incident.

CBS News - Evanston police and firefighters responded to the lakefront.

WHAT:

ABC7 Chicago - The 19-year-old Northwestern student died after being pulled unresponsive from Lake Michigan; she was taken to a local hospital and later pronounced dead.

CBS News - Rescue divers pulled the unresponsive woman from the water, began CPR, and took her to Endeavor Health Evanston Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

CBS News - Police said the woman had been in the water for about 30 minutes.

ABC7 Chicago - Northwestern is offering support services to students following the death.

CBS News - The death is under investigation, and police said there is no danger to the public.

CBS News - Evanston’s beaches were closed, and no lifeguards were on duty.

ABC7 Chicago - City officials said hazard warnings and signs prohibiting swimming and fishing are posted along Northwestern’s lakefront property.

ABC7 Chicago - Evanston police urged people to follow posted warnings, check lake conditions before approaching the water, obey city or university officials, and stay out of the water and off break walls and rocks.

CBS News - Police gave the same warnings about following signs, checking lake conditions, obeying officials, and staying out of the water and off break walls and rocks.

WHERE:

ABC7 Chicago - The woman was pulled from Lake Michigan near 70 Arts Circle Drive in Evanston, Illinois.

CBS News - Police and firefighters responded to the lakefront near Northwestern University’s southern lakefill area, just north of Clark Street Beach.

CBS News - The woman was taken to Endeavor Health Evanston Hospital.

WHEN:

ABC7 Chicago - The woman was spotted in the water around 7 a.m.

CBS News - Emergency responders arrived around 7 a.m.

WHY:

ABC7 Chicago - The cause of the death was not available; authorities were investigating.

CBS News - Police said Lake Michigan can be dangerous.

HOW:

ABC7 Chicago - Evanston Fire Department members pulled the unresponsive woman from the lake and attempted life-saving measures.

CBS News - Rescue divers pulled the woman from the water and performed CPR.

(UPDATED October 22, 2026 02:17 UTC)

A 19-year-old Northwestern University student has died after being pulled unresponsive from Lake Michigan in Evanston, Illinois. Rescue divers brought her from the water near the university’s southern lakefill, just north of Clark Street Beach, and began CPR. Emergency responders arrived around 7 a.m., and the woman was taken to Endeavor Health Evanston Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Police said she had been in the water for about 30 minutes. Her identity has not been released, and the university said she was not from the Evanston area. The death is under investigation, and authorities say there is no danger to the public. Evanston beaches were closed, with no lifeguards on duty. Officials urge people to heed warning signs, check lake conditions, follow instructions, and stay out of the water and away from break walls and rocks. The university is offering support to affected community members.