Tragic Loss: Chicago Firefighter Wilbert Hayes Dies in Lake Michigan Drowning

An off-duty Chicago firefighter, Wilbert Hayes, drowned at 31st Street Beach in Lake Michigan. Despite rescue efforts, Hayes did not survive. The cause of his distress remains unclear. This incident adds to the recent spike in drownings in the Great Lakes, with 48 deaths recorded this year, 20 of them in Lake Michigan. The Chicago Fire Department is conducting a full investigation into the tragic loss.