It's been an all hands-on-deck effort Wednesday morning.
Crews have been out searching all night and into the early morning hours for this missing swimmer.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources said it is now a recovery mission.
"We're checking the shoreline," Porter Fire Chief Jay Craig Jr. "We're searching about a three-mile area of beach just looking for any signs, whether it's an article of clothing that he may have been wearing."
Shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday, Indiana DNR said a 17-year-old boy from Eagan, Minnesota was swimming out in Lake Michigan near Beverly Shores on vacation with family when he disappeared.
"They're from out of town, came to the beach for a day of lake activities, and found themselves in the water and in some trouble," Indiana DNR Conservation Officer Tyler Brock said.
The water was even rougher Tuesday, with massive waves and high winds.
"Our original call was one in the water missing and one in distress," Chief Craig said. "When we arrived, ultimately, we had three patients that were out of the water that were transported to the hospital along with the one that was missing."
"I know witnesses got involved and got in the water too to try to help," Brock said. "One of them ended up needing to be transported to the hospital as well. So it got pretty intense."
Authorities said he was last seen about 300 feet from shore.
"There were forecasted six to nine foot waves, and a beach hazard statement was in effect so really dangerous swimming conditions," Brock said.
Rescue personnel were hindered by the treacherous conditions and used ATVs and other aerial tools to search for the missing teen from ground.
"The water conditions are unsafe, unsafe for even our divers and our trained rescue swimmers," Chief Craig said. "So everything has been shore-based or helicopter, drone or boat on the water."
"If conditions change, we will reevaluate and send people out if we can," Brock said.
Crews said they hope to be able to get in the water to search at some point Wednesday or Thursday.