A fun visit up north ended tragically Saturday for a downstate couple.
The National Park Service, U.S. Coast Guard, Michigan State Police, Leelanau Sheriff’s Department and Glen Lake Fire Department continued their search Tuesday morning for a downstate man missing since Saturday when his kayak went down off Sleeping Bear Point. He was found shortly before noon Tuesday Merrith Baughman, ranger and public information officer, said several personal items of the missing kayaker were found, leading to recovery of the victim. It was the culmination of three days of work by several units of first responders.
Saturday about 3 p.m. county dispatchers received a call after two kayakers were in trouble about 1/4 mile off shore nearSleepingBearPoint. Itwasthen that people on the shore heard shouting from the water.
“Thankfully, they had a powerful scope and was able to call for help,” Baughman said.
A Good Samaritan jumped in a boat and plucked another kayaker, a 37-year-old female, from the water. She was taken to Munson Medical Center for treatment of hypothermia. The water temperature at noon Monday was 62 degrees.
Neither kayaker was wearing a personal flotation device.
“Unfortunately, its all too common with fatal drowning (not wearing a life jacket). Since we tracked drownings since 2012, we have had over 1,250,” Bob Pratt of Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project said.
Pratt went on to say that of those 1,250 drowning deaths fewer than 20 have been wearing a life jacket (>2%). In total, 80% of drowning victims are male.
“The Great Lakes can change in a heart beat from a warm calm day to a storm change condition,” Pratt said.
“One lesson is to wear your life jacket and actually wear it. Don’t put it on in a middle of emergency is like being in middle of a car crash,” Pratt said.
There was a beach hazard statement issued by the National Weather Service Saturday evening through Sunday evening.
As of press time Tuesday, searchers were optimistic the kayaker’s body will be recovered soon as some of his belongings were found in the water.
During a two-day period, the Coast Guard were called upon to help with vessels along the Lake Michigan shoreline. A boat capsized with two fishermen on board off Frankfort.
A Good Samaritan rescued the men who were clinging to the side of their boat. The vessel eventually came to rest on the beach near Sleeping Bear Point, a seat was found several hundred feet away from the boat.
Boater safety is front and center for the Leelanau County Sheriff’s Office.
“Please, please talk to your kids, family and friends about the importance of wearing a life preserver,” Sheriff Mike Borkovich said. “There will be no warnings given. If you are on the water, (over your head) without a preserver you will be ticketed.”
