STORY YOUMISSED
A 19-year-old Northwestern University student has passed away after emergency crews pulled her from Lake Michigan near the Evanston campus.
Evanston police officers and firefighters responded to the lakefront property at approximately 7 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
The emergency response was initiated after a bystander spotted a person in the water near the university’s southern lakefill area.
The scene of the rescue was located just north of Clark Street Beach along the Evanston shore.
Rescue divers quickly entered the water and retrieved an unresponsive woman from Lake Michigan.
First responders began performing emergency CPR immediately after pulling her onto the shore.
Paramedics transported the woman to Endeavor Health Evanston Hospital for urgent medical care.
Medical staff at the hospital subsequently pronounced the young woman dead.
Authorities noted that it was not immediately clear how long the victim had been in the water before rescue teams arrived.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified the victim as 19-year-old Saba Hani Alkaabi.
Officials from Northwestern University officially confirmed that Alkaabi was an enrolled student at the school.
A spokesperson for Northwestern University released a statement expressing deep condolences to her family and friends.
University administration confirmed that grief and support services are being made available to affected campus community members.
“Our thoughts are with the student’s family and friends. The University is providing support services to impacted community members,” a Northwestern spokesperson said.
Local authorities stated that while her death remains under active investigation, there is no ongoing threat or danger to the public.
Following the tragic event, Evanston police issued a public safety reminder regarding the inherent dangers of Lake Michigan.
Officials emphasized that warning signs prohibiting both swimming and fishing are posted prominently along Northwestern’s lakefront boundaries.
Police urged residents and students to obey all posted hazard signs, review water conditions prior to approaching the shore, and stay off break walls and lakefront rocks.
City officials also reminded the public that Evanston beaches have been closed since Labor Day, meaning no lifeguard personnel were on duty at the time of the incident.
