A father and son drowned at a state forest campground in Cheboygan County’s Burt Township on Saturday, July 5, the Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
Police said a 54-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy, both from Levering, died July 5 at Maple Bay State Forest Campground on Burt Lake. The sheriff’s office did not immediately identify the victims in a Facebook post.
Deputies were dispatched at about 3:21 p.m. Saturday after a distress call reporting two individuals in distress in the water, according to the release from Sheriff Todd A. Ross.
Witnesses at the scene said the 16-year-old boy had been underwater for approximately 7 minutes. His father entered the water to attempt to rescue his son.
Cheboygan County Marine Patrol, with assistance from bystanders, arrived on the scene within minutes and located the 54-year-old underwater. Shortly thereafter, the 16-year-old was pulled from the water.
Both victims were transported to the Maple Bay boat launch where emergency life-saving measures were administered. Despite efforts, the 54-year-old male was pronounced deceased at the scene. The 16-year-old male was transported to McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, where he later died.
The Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the incident, and said drugs and alcohol are not suspected to be factors in the deaths.
The Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Cheboygan County Dive Team, Emmet County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division, Pellston Fire Department/First Responders, and Cheboygan Life Support System.
Where is the campground located?
The rustic campground 4 miles east of Brutus is located on the west side of Burt Lake and offers boat access and a sandy shoreline. There is a large day-use parking lot directly adjacent to the campground, which provides parking for boaters and day visitors, according to the DNR, with 35 wooded and private campsites.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Father, son die in northern Michigan drowning. What the Cheboygan County sheriff is saying
Reporting by Dan Basso, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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