Lake Michigan drownings up 80% over last year
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — New statistics from the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project showed Lake Michigan drowning deaths were up compared to this time last year.
Through July 31, 2019, there were 52 Great Lakes drownings, with 27 of those occurring in Lake Michigan.
Up until July 31, 2018 there were 15 Lake Michigan drownings, making 2019 a 80% increase through the start of August.
This past Saturday a man drowned in Holland when high waves and strong winds prompted red flag conditions. That same day, a teen was swept off the pier in Grand Haven, but survived.
Executive Director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project Dave Benjamin said high water levels haven't been directly correlated to the spike in drownings, but that there could be some impacts.
"One thing about more water, when we have wind and wave events, because the water's deeper that's actually going to develop a deeper swell," Benjamin said. "It seems like we've had a lot more wind and wave events where we're having pretty good wave heights throughout the summer."
Benjamin also mentioned faster flow near river outlets that can be particularly dangerous for those swimming near the outlet current.
