Big Waves Attract Beach Thrill Seekers

National Weather Service issued at Beach Hazards statement through Friday evening

It might be a good idea to stay away from the beach.

The National Weather Service issued at Beach Hazards statement Friday that remains in effect through Friday evening.

The NWS warns of high wave action and dangerous swimming conditions, along with strong, life-threatening rip currents strong enough to sweep you out away from shore into deeper water.

But the warning didn't stop many people from hitting the shores of Lake Michigan.

NBC 5 captured numerous swimmers fighting their way through waves near Ohio Street Beach.

"It's pretty wild," student Jordan Kuyper said. "I haven't seen waves this big in a long time."

At 63rd Street Beach, it was surfs up for Fred Soppet and his friends who decided to surf.

"It's much better in Hawaii where they are longer and more predictable. This is kind of chaos," Soppet said.

At Montrose Beach, the wind surfers, wind riders and kite boarders were out in force.

"When you're out there, you are out there on your own, just you the wind, the water the waves, the elements. There's nothing like it," kite boarder Mike Romba said.

It wasn't all fun and gamers for everyone.

In Wilmette, a kite surfer experienced "stress" while sailing off a north suburban beach Friday afternoon.

Dispatchers received a call of a missing windsurfer, but the call was downgraded within minutes when he was found, the Pioneer Press reported.

The windsurfer said he experienced problems with his kite, but was never in danger.

Just after 2 a.m., authorities were called to Rogers Beach Park where a man was found clinging to a Lake Michigan breakwall.

He and another man were swimming and playing fetch with a dog when he disappeared, police said, and the second man called for help.

The Chicago Fire Department was unable to deploy divers to search the area due to rough lake conditions, a spokesman said, but the missing man was later found.

The 41-year-old was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he was listed in good condition.

Hours earlier, another man was pulled from the Chicago River by a people on a tour boat.

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