A 24-year-old man who was pulled from a wind-swept Lake Michigan by Port Washington firefighters early Saturday afternoon has died, Ozaukee County Coroner John Holicek said.

Port Washington resident Peter Dougherty was pronounced dead at Aurora Medical Center in Grafton, Holicek said. 

Dougherty, who was wearing a life jacket, was floating about 300 yards northeast of Port Washington’s north breakwater when four firefighters in an inflatable boat pulled him out of the water, Fire Chief Mark Mitchell said. Dougherty was not breathing, and firefighters administered CPR, he said. 

Authorities believe Dougherty was kayaking alone. Although rescuers did not find a kayak, Dougherty was dressed for kayaking and a vehicle and kayak carrier were found parked at the city’s south beach, Mitchell said. 

A couple who was at the lakefront reported a man in the water at about 11:45. Firefighters launched their boat around noon and reached Dougherty a short time later, Mitchell said. 

Police officers and a Department of Natural Resources conservation warden were on the breakwater and guided the rescuers to Dougherty.

According to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather station in Port Washington, southwest winds were gusting to more than 25 mph at the time.

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