The search for a missing 18-year-old Jackson man, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020. Courtesy South Haven Area Emergency Services
HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — An 18-year-old Jackson man may have drowned in Lake Michigan near South Haven’s South Beach Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020.
The search for his body has been suspended, and South Beach is closed throughout Monday, in light of the dangerous swimming conditions.
South Haven Area Emergency Services responders were called to the scene at 4:30 p.m. on the report of two men in distress at a buoy about 100 feet from shore, in the swimming area.
Red flags were flying on the beach, with waves on Lake Michigan reaching 3 to 5 feet.
A SHAES responder and South Haven police officer reached a 19-year-old Jackson man clinging to the buoy, who said his friend disappeared while trying to swim back to shore.
South Beach was closed immediately. SHAES responders formed a human search chain as the Van Buren Sheriff Marine Patrol, joined later by a Coast Guard cutter, conducted search patterns by boat. A Coast Guard helicopter and the Van Buren Sheriff Dive Time also assisted in the search.
On Saturday, three distressed people were rescued in the same area. Since the start of summer, two people have drowned near South Haven beaches. SHAES Chief Brandon Hinz told WHTC in an email late Sunday the search will resume Monday, conditions permitting.
