2 men drown in Lake Michigan in Michigan over weekend

The victims included a 30-year-old Chicago man and a 67-year-old Michigan man.

Sep 7 2021 | 1 min read

LAKETOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — At least two people drowned over the holiday weekend while at Lake Michigan beaches in Michigan, authorities said.

Ryan Harms, 30, of the Chicago area drowned Sunday at Saugatuck Dunes State Park in Allegan County, the sheriff's office said.

Officials said he had been swimming alone in the water for 15-20 minutes when friends went to check on him. The friends and beachgoers were able to reach him, along with several off-duty medical professionals, but despite resuscitation efforts he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The GLSRP says that there were no lifeguards on duty at the beach, and a hazardous beach statement was in effect at the time of the drowning.^[1]

In Ottawa County, a 67-year-old man from Mason, near Lansing, drowned Saturday while swimming at a beach in Park Township. His name wasn't released.

Deputies said the man was in the water with his family when he was pulled away by waves, adding good Samaritans used paddle boards to find the victim and bring him to shore.^[2]

There have been at least 77 drownings this year in the Great Lakes, including 35 in Lake Michigan, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. There have been more than 1,023 drownings on the Great Lakes since 2010, according to the group.^[3]