Man swept into Lake Michigan by wave dies

High wave alert in effect as shoreline warning issued

A 26-year-old man who was swept into Lake Michigan by a large wave early Saturday on the Near North Side has died, officials said.

The wave knocked the man, Ramiro Calixto, into the water while he was walking with his cousin in the 1600 block of North Lake Shore Drive around 5:35 a.m. He was found in the 1300 block of Lake Shore Drive, according to a Chicago Fire Department spokesman and family.

Calixto was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in extremely critical condition, but he was later pronounced dead, officials said.

Calixto, of the 3200 block of West Haddon Avenue in Humboldt Park, worked at Bradley Sports Center on the North Side, helping kids learn to play baseball and basketball, said his oldest brother, David Mendoza.

“He was a great guy. He loved teaching and he was also a counselor there. He had started his own basketball league, just getting it off the ground,” Mendoza said.

Calixto also volunteered with his old peewee football league in Humboldt Park, helping out with the new kids, his brother said.

Calixto had been walking along the lake with a cousin when he got swept into the water. His cousin dove in after him, but it was too dark and the waves were too strong, Mendoza said.

“He tried, but it was dark and the waves were just humongous. They were hitting him, pushing him back,’’ Mendoza said of his cousin.

A lifelong Chicagoan, and the baby of his family, Calixto played football and baseball and graduated from Lakeview High School in 2010. He had hopes to play sports in college, but he injured his knee.

Calixto loved working with children.

“He was such a helping hand,’’ Mendoza said. “All the kids he helped at his job and just randomly.’’

Mendoza remembered a trip to Puerto Rico about two years ago, when he and their father joined Calixto to celebrate a championship win by Calixto’s softball team.

They were at the hotel pool when Calixto noticed a little boy who wanted to play in the water but his dad didn’t know how to use a snorkel, Mendoza said.

Calixto quickly made friends with the boy, who was about 4 or 5.

“Within 20 minutes he was swimming like a fish and having a blast,’’ Mendoza said. “The kid went from being frustrated to loving swimming.’’

National Weather Service officials issued a warning for the Lake Michigan shoreline that is in effect until 4 a.m. Monday due to strong northeast winds resulting in 7- to 10-foot waves.

The Fire Department said people should stay away from the shoreline.

Strong rip currents and life-threatening waves are expected at beaches. The rip currents can sweep swimmers into deeper waters, and those visiting beaches this weekend should stay out of the water, weather service officials said in a coastal flood warnings and watches statement.

Officials said elevated lake levels and high waves are expected to cause flooding in flood-prone areas, including areas of the Lakefront Trail.