Key takeaways:
- Luke Laidley, 43, died on July 4th after jumping from a boat into Lake Michigan to help at least one child who fell off a raft.
- Laidley was a father of three and a 9/11 survivor.
- The Winnetka community is mourning the loss of Laidley, who died while trying to save the lives of others.
A Chicago-area man who survived the 9/11 attacks in New York City died on July 4th after jumping from a boat into Lake Michigan to help at least one child who fell off a raft. Winnetka Police Chief Brian O’Connell said the city’s police and fire departments were called to an area near the city’s Elder Beach about 1:20 p.m. on Tuesday.
The man, identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office as Luke Laidley, 43, was taken to an Evanston hospital in serious condition, but later died. Laidley was a father of three and was on a boat that was pulling several kids tubbing in the water when the tube flipped.
An autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday, said medical examiner’s office spokesperson Natalia Derevyanny. Laidley’s family sent a statement to ABC7 Chicago confirming that he was a 9/11 survivor.
The family said in the statement, “Luke was a hero in life and in death. He was a 9/11 survivor and was in New York City on that fateful day. He was a devoted father, husband, son, brother, and friend. He was a man of faith and a man of service.”
The Winnetka community is mourning the loss of Laidley, who died while trying to save the lives of others. His selfless act of heroism is an example of the courage and bravery of the people of Chicago.
Be First to Comment