RACINE, Wis. — As the summer season comes to a close, the beaches of Lake Michigan remain a popular destination. However, the number of drownings this summer has sparked renewed calls for caution.

Beach officials are urging beachgoers to remain vigilant as they enjoy the remaining warm days of the season.

What You Need To Know

  • The number of drownings this summer has sparked renewed calls for caution

  • Three years ago, during the summer of 2021, five people died off of Racine’s shores. It was the most drownings the city has ever experienced in a single summer

  • This summer, Racine had the most lifeguards in nearly two decades. It hired 26 in total

  • A 23-year-old man was pulled from the water at North Beach in Racine in July and did not survive

Phil Kiley, the lifeguard program manager for the City of Racine, is on the frontline of water safety efforts.

He just wrapped up his 19th lifeguarding season on North Beach, which is one of Racine’s most closely monitored beaches because of the powerful undertows.

“This area in particular is where a lot of where our worst events happen,” said Kiley. “What you end up having is a long-short current coming from the north and heading south, and then it hits a structure such as the pier.”

Three years ago, during the summer of 2021, five people died off of Racine’s shores. It was the most drownings the city has ever experienced in a single summer.

Ever since, the city has been working to build up its lifeguarding team. This summer, Racine had the most lifeguards in nearly two decades. It hired 26 in total. Even so, they cannot be everywhere at all hours of the day and night.

A 23-year-old man was pulled from the water at North Beach in July and did not survive.

That drowning victim is one of the 44 people who’ve died swimming in Lake Michigan this year, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. Lake Michigan is shared by Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan.

“People sometimes come here thinking it’s just like your backyard pool,” said Kiley. “We have currents. We have waves. We have uneven surfaces underneath where you could be on a sandbar in one moment, take a step, and hit a ledge where you have a drop off, and now you’re off the sandbar.”

Kiley said he always tries to warn people to think about their swimming abilities before going into the lake. Especially at this time of year—in September—while it’s still warm enough to swim, but beaches are not staffed.

“So, it’s really important now, since lifeguards have gone back to school and we are out of that lifeguarding season, that people are extremely mindful about water safety and just taking that extra precaution,” said Kiley.