Three passengers and the boat were towed to safety at Diversey Harbor early Wednesday evening. No one was injured.
Emergency responders got a call around 4 p.m. about a boat in distress just off Chicago Avenue and the lakeshore. They sent out a full response team including divers, which were not needed.
A helicopter identified the boat's exact location since it was small and was not seen easily without binoculars from the shore.
"The craft itself was taking water. The motor was not working properly, so as a result they were kind of stuck out there," said Battalion Chief Steve Little, Chicago Fire Department. "The helicopter reported to us exact location of the boat and that the boat was secured to the breakwall, on the inside of the breakwall. We also had two fire boats coming out, and one of the fire boats was able to get to the boat and secure the boat and make sure the people were OK."
Little says during the course of the summer along the length of the entire lakefront there are one to two incidents a day. Most end well. However, he encourages all boaters to wear life jackets and tells them not to venture out on the lake alone.
All three passengers on board refused medical attention.
