Chicago Man, 23, Drowns at 31st Street Beach in Lake Michigan
A 23-year-old man, identified as Bryan Nguyen by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, died from accidental drowning at 31st Street Beach on Chicago’s South Side on May 12, 2025.
Nguyen went missing in Lake Michigan’s chilly waters around 2 p.m. on Monday, prompting an hour-long search by the Chicago Fire and Police Departments, according to ChicagoCrimeChaser.com.
Witness Jose Vazquez, a local charter boat operator, saw Nguyen jump off a pier with a group of young people. Struggling 50 feet from shore in high-40s water with strong currents, Nguyen disappeared underwater.
CFD divers, four search boats, and a helicopter scoured the area, but Nguyen was pulled unresponsive from the lake and pronounced dead at the University of Chicago Medical Center despite CPR efforts. With beaches closed until late May, no lifeguards were present, highlighting the dangers of early-season swimming.
ChicagoCrimeChaser.com will provide updates as the investigation continues.
