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UPDATE: Chicago man presumed drowned in Lake Michigan
By Ashley Henderson (ahenderson@wsbt.com)
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Photo provided by Mark Parren
By Jason Overholt
Story Created: Sep 3, 2010 at 7:07 PM EDT
Story Updated: Sep 4, 2010 at 3:45 AM EDT
A 26-year-old Chicago man is missing after he went Swimming in Lake Michigan near Bridgman Friday.
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The Lincoln Charter Township Police Department said in a release that their department responded to a 911 call of a distressed swimmer in Lake Michigan in the 7200 block of Waverland Path just after 6 p.m. The incident was at a private beach.
Local fire departments were activated along with the Berrien County water rescue and US Coast Guard station in St. Joseph.
Responders determined that a 26-year-old Chicago man and two brothers, Sean and Robert Finnerman from Lincolnwod, Illinois, had been staying at a nearby residence and decided to swim in the high waves.
The three had a small rubber raft and went out several yards into the water. At one point, the swimmers became separated from the raft and the two brothers managed to follow it back to shore.
However, the third man was caught in the current. A witness then dialed 9-1-1 for help.
Upon arrival, emergency responders could not locate any sign of the man, and a Coast Guard helicopter searched the area after dark without success. Due to high winds and strong rip currents, rescue efforts were limited because of dangerous conditions.
Firefighters from the Lake Township/Bridgman units requested an ambulance after attempting to enter the lake with jet-ski equipment. Their injuries are unknown.
A rip current statement was issued by the National Weather Service Friday at 10 a.m. warning people to stay away from the lake due to high waves and strong rip currents.
By Ashley Henderson (ahenderson@wsbt.com)
Tools
Photo provided by Mark Parren
By Jason Overholt
Story Created: Sep 3, 2010 at 7:07 PM EDT
Story Updated: Sep 4, 2010 at 3:45 AM EDT
A 26-year-old Chicago man is missing after he went Swimming in Lake Michigan near Bridgman Friday.
Gallery
The Lincoln Charter Township Police Department said in a release that their department responded to a 911 call of a distressed swimmer in Lake Michigan in the 7200 block of Waverland Path just after 6 p.m. The incident was at a private beach.
Local fire departments were activated along with the Berrien County water rescue and US Coast Guard station in St. Joseph.
Responders determined that a 26-year-old Chicago man and two brothers, Sean and Robert Finnerman from Lincolnwod, Illinois, had been staying at a nearby residence and decided to swim in the high waves.
The three had a small rubber raft and went out several yards into the water. At one point, the swimmers became separated from the raft and the two brothers managed to follow it back to shore.
However, the third man was caught in the current. A witness then dialed 9-1-1 for help.
Upon arrival, emergency responders could not locate any sign of the man, and a Coast Guard helicopter searched the area after dark without success. Due to high winds and strong rip currents, rescue efforts were limited because of dangerous conditions.
Firefighters from the Lake Township/Bridgman units requested an ambulance after attempting to enter the lake with jet-ski equipment. Their injuries are unknown.
A rip current statement was issued by the National Weather Service Friday at 10 a.m. warning people to stay away from the lake due to high waves and strong rip currents.
