Kenosha County officials recover body of man missing in Silver Lake

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Updated: 8:26 a.m. on June 17, 2022

KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Authorities report the body of the 22-year-old man that went missing on Silver Lake was recovered around 7:10 p.m. Thursday, June 16. 

The man was identified as Philip Shwaiko, a resident of Kenosha. 


Published: 1:38 p.m. on June 16, 2022

KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A search to recover a missing man is underway on Silver Lake in Kenosha County, Thursday, June 16.

It was another exhausting water search on a 90-degree day, with the weather once again playing a role. It has been extremely windy here with white caps. The Fire Department pulled out their boats a short time ago.

Sunny days bring boaters, skiers and swimmers to Silver Lake. By late morning, they were here.

"It was choppy. It was windy, lots of people enjoying the hot summer day," said neighbor Melisa Ladewig.

But, around 12:30 p.m., a 911 call brought Kenosha County deputies to the scene. A woman reportedly said her boyfriend had gone swimming with his 5-year-old niece, but it was so windy, they quickly drifted away from the boat.

"When we came to enter the lake we found out there were two missing people, so we found out we were not allowed to swim so," said Suhaiab Abuhashish, who was visiting the lake from Chicago today.

At Silver Lake Park, beach-goers were told to get out of the water immediately.

"We got here, we parked and immediately we saw a sheriff's car with the lights on and I heard ambulances in the background," said Mali Sullivan who was visiting the lake from Illinois.

According to the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department, the 5-year-old girl was wearing a life jacket. A passing boater was able to rescue her, but they lost the girl's 22-year-old uncle. The child was found in the water and pulled to safety by another boater. He is OK.

Melisa Ladewig lives across the street.

"So we saw the first dive rescue and I thought oh they're just practicing," said Ladewig.

Salem Lakes Firefighters, along with first responders from across stateline working together, four or five boats out there all afternoon, were using sonar and moving slowly as people from the shoreline watched.

"And we came back and still no luck, you know, and we just hope for the best," said Suhaiab Abuhashish, who was visiting the lake."

Around 2:40 p.m. Thursday, officials say the incident was no longer considered a rescue but a recovery mission. 

Dive teams from southeast Wisconsin and northern Illinois were called in to assist.

It is unclear whether the little girl's uncle was wearing a life jacket, or whether he just brought it into the water with him. But, first responders did recover his life jacket from the lake.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department at 262-605-5100.

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