Horvath's two friends could barely make it back to the beach themselves and couldn't save him.
They were all in Michigan for the holiday weekend at a friend's home. ABC7 Chicago spoke to Horvath's sister Sunday afternoon.
"If anything, Tim really took on any challenge that came his way. And I don't think there was any activity or sport or adventure that he turned down. And he really took on any challenge, and he was just fearless, just incredibly fearless," sister Aubree Ross said.
Ross hopes talking about her brother will encourage others to heed the warning about rip currents.
The Coast Guard estimates 68 people have drowned in Lake Michigan this year, which is an increase compared to 2009 when 40 people drowned in the lake.
