Missing swimmer near Port Washington presumed dead
PORT WASHINGTON - Crews were to resume their search Monday morning for a 15-year-old boy who has gone missing while swimming with friends in Lake Michigan. The boy is identified as Tyler Buczek, authorities said.
"I got a phone call telling me they couldn't find him," friend Abby Graf says.
When Abby saw rescue boats swarming near Port Washington's North Beach Sunday afternoon, she knew it was serious.
Rescue crews were searching for her friend. The 14-year-old boy disappeared while swimming with a group of friends just north of the Port Washington harbor.
"A last day of summer swim at the beach and they went under and one didn't come back up," Abby's mother, Karen Graf says.
Her daughter was supposed to be at the beach, too.
"I can't imagine getting that phone call," Karen says. "It's every parents' worst nightmare."
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter circled the area by air while a handful of boats trolled the water for a good six hours.
Friends of the victim clung to their loved ones in tears.
"My heart is just breaking for his parents," Karen says. "I can't even imagine."
As night fell, driver swept the water on foot as friends tried to understand how such a young life could be lost.
"We're all freshmen," one friend says. "It ssupposed to be we're all happy, we're in high school. But I don't think that's going to be how it is this year."
The search was called off at about 8:30 Sunday night and will resume Monday.
Meanwhile, counselors will be at Port Washington High School Monday morning to help process students through this tragedy.
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