A 3-year-old boy is in very critical condition after being pulled from Lake Michigan near Navy Pier on Monday afternoon, Chicago police and fire officials said.
The child was pulled from the water in the 700 block of East Grand Avenue about 1 p.m., according to Chicago police.
He went into cardiac arrest and was taken to Lurie Children’s Hospital in “very critical” condition, according to Chicago fire officials.
He was still receiving treatment at the hospital Monday evening, according to Chicago Police Department Deputy Chief Gabriella Shemash.
The boy was with a guardian when he fell into the water, police said.
A source said an adult was taken into custody after the incident. Detectives are still investigating.
A statement released Monday night on behalf of Navy Pier said, “Navy Pier is deeply saddened to learn about the injury of a child pulled from the water this afternoon. We are working very closely with the Chicago Police Department as they investigate the incident. Our hearts are with the child and his loved ones.”
An employee at Navy Pier said she saw a woman and child walking on the pier. The woman was allegedly being very “careless” with the child, letting him walk behind her and not holding his hand or “paying attention,” the employee said.
“He could have gone anywhere,” the employee said.
The employee said she saw the woman and child walking “in the middle of the street” of the parking area of the pier. She said she knew something had gone wrong when police and an ambulance showed up.
“I asked if it was the baby I had just seen, and they said, ‘Yeah.’ I couldn’t believe it.”
“As with any incident involving children, these are difficult circumstances,” Shemash said. “We ask that you keep the family in your thoughts.”
Contributing: WBEZ reporter Indira Khera
