A desperate search continues for 38-year-old Robert Foster, who has been missing in Lake Michigan for two days after jumping into the water off Chicago’s South Side.
Foster was enjoying a Saturday afternoon on a pontoon boat with friends near 63rd Street Beach when a gas can fell overboard. Witnesses say he jumped in to retrieve it. Although he was wearing a life vest and was known to be a confident swimmer, the lake’s rough waves quickly pulled him away from the boat. Within minutes, he was in visible distress and disappeared beneath the surface.
Chicago Fire Department divers responded swiftly, entering the water approximately 16 minutes after a 911 call was made. They searched for 90 minutes before shifting the operation from rescue to recovery. Since then, the Chicago Police Department’s Marine Unit has taken over, using sonar and boat patrols to scour the area each day.
As of Monday, there is still no sign of Robert.
His mother and fiancée have remained near the lake since the incident, praying for a miracle. “Robert is a fighter,” his mother said. “We’re not giving up hope.”
The family is asking anyone who may have been in the area—especially boaters or beachgoers who saw anything out of the ordinary—to contact authorities. Even a small detail could help narrow the search.
As the community hopes for closure, Foster’s disappearance is a painful reminder of Lake Michigan’s unpredictability, even for experienced swimmers.
This story is developing. Updates will follow as search efforts continue.
