Nearly a dozen people lost their lives in Michigan waters over the Independence Day weekend, including a pair of incidents in which two people died.
According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, there have been 31 Great Lakes drownings so far in 2025. Drownings on inland lakes were not immediately available.
Here’s what to know about deadly incidents across Michigan over the holiday weekend.
Boy from Kalamazoo County drowns in Saginaw County
A 5-year-old boy from Kalamazoo County drowned on July 4 in a large private pond over Independence Day, reporting from ABC 12 said. Authorities were dispatched about 8:40 p.m. to Clear Lake Drive in Fremont Township.
Witnesses at the location pulled the boy out of the water before authorities arrived.
He was pronounced dead Saturday morning, July 5.
Man falls of jetski, drowns on Lake Mecosta
At 11:32 a.m. July 5, 34-year-old David Thompson, of Taylor, was found by multiple law enforcement dive teams, the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office said, after he fell off a jetski.
The incident occurred at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 4. Thompson was observed falling off a jetski, into the water, going under and not coming back to the surface.
Thompson was not wearing a personal flotation device at the time of accident.
White Lake drowning reported
Firefighters from the Muskegon Dive Rescue Team said in a Facebook post on July 5 that authorities were assisting in a reported drowning at White Lake. No update has been shared at this time.
Double drowning at Maple Bay State Campground
The Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office said a double drowning occurred on Burt Lake near Maple Bay Campground.
At approximately 3:21 p.m, authorities responded to a call reporting to individuals “in distress” in the water.
A 16-year-old and 54-year-old, of Levering, were father and son. The father entered the water attempting to save his son and drowned.
Cheboygan County Marine Patrol and other bystanders, pulled both from the water. The father was pronounced dead at the scene. The son was transported to McLaren Northern Michigan in Petoskey, where he was later pronounced dead.
Two Oakland County men drown in separate incidents
Divers from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Search and rescue team recovered two bodies over the holiday weekend less than 12 hours apart, a news release says.
At 4 a.m. July 6, officials received a call that an 86-year-old Springfield Township man with dementia was missing. The missing man, Gerald Burge, was last seen at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Authorities searched his home in the 8400 block of Rattalee Lake Road, and a pond on the property also was searched. The victim was discovered in the water; he was pronounced dead on the scene.
Authorities were deployed to White Lake to join a search for a different man missing shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday, July 5.
49-year-old Jason Brookshire was on a boat and entered White Lake near the 3400 block of Jackson Boulevard. Officials say he never resurfaced. He was not wearing a lifejacket.
Divers recovered Brookshire’s body late Saturday night in 7 feet of water 100 feet from shore. Officials say alcohol is believed to be a factor in the incident.
Teen party in Carrollton Township ends in drowning
A 15-year-old drowned in a pool during a large party involving juveniles near Saginaw Saturday evening, media reports say.
ABC 12 said firefighters found the teen’s body in 12 feet of water in a pool in the 900 block of Atlanta Street in Carrollton Township around 7:15 p.m. The teen was pronounced dead on the scene.
Father and son drown in Lake Michigan
A father and son drowned while swimming in Lake Michigan at a beach in northwest Indiana Saturday afternoon. The National Weather Service had issued swim warnings because of high waves and strong wind.
According to reporting from WGN 9 Chicago, the victims were identified as David Meneou, 65, of Joliet Illinois, and his son, Jameson Meneou, 20, of Lockport, Illinois.
Safety recommendations to prevent future incidents
According to the Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office swimmers should:
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Nearly a dozen people drowned over the long holiday weekend. What we know
Reporting by Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
