Man dies after being pulled from Lake Michigan

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A man died after he was found clinging to rocks in Lake Michigan near Rainbow Beach on Chicago's South Side Thursday morning.

The Chicago Fire Department responded to reports of a man in the water near the South Water Purification Plant, which is located at 3300 East Cheltenham Place.

Crews had to break the locks on a gate to gain access to the private drive near the water's edge.

The man was found hanging onto a breakwall. Fire officials said he was wearing a life vest, but it is unclear what he was doing in the water.

After divers got him back to shore, first responders put him in an ambulance and performed CPR. He was transported in critical condition to South Shore Hospital, where police said he later died.

A nurse supervisor said the man has not been identified and that it's a "John Doe" case.

Gary Litherland, a spokesperson at the filtration plant, said Chicago's water supply will not be impacted by the emergency.

"Filtering and removing things from the water is what we do," Litherland said.

The plant was not taking water from the shore at that time.