Dual Deaths On The Muskegon

Dual Deaths On The Muskegon
By N3 News Team
Two days of warm weather brought thousands to the river this past weekend but each day ended in tragedy. Saturday afternoon the body of a 34 year old man from Grand Rapids was found near downtown Newaygo.

The man was reported to have been fishing off the bank and had entered the water, according to a press release by the Newaygo Police Department.
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“Newaygo Police Department was on scene a short time after the call went out and...

...was soon assisted by other members of the Muskegon River Task Force and Wisner Rents Canoes,” reads the statement. “An extensive search was conducted and later the Newaygo County Dive team members were directed to the location the man was last seen. A short time later he was located, but did not survive.

“All Members of the Muskegon River Task Force were involved and assisted greatly in the water recovery. Chief Andres was assisted on scene by Newaygo Fire Chief Wolford, Newaygo County Sheriff Hedlund, and Undersheriff Bierling.

“Newaygo Police Department Officers were assisted by: Newaygo County Dive Team, Newaygo Fire Department, Newaygo County Central Dispatch, Department of Natural Resources, Newaygo County Sheriff's Department, Fremont Police Department, LIFE ambulance, and Aero Med had been on standby.

“Newaygo Police Department greatly appreciated the assistance of these Departments and the seamless cooperation was evident. Though fast in our response a better outcome was not attained.”

On Sunday afternoon Mecosta Sheriff’s Department reported they had located the body of a 47 year old man from Big Rapids who went missing after being thrown from his boat while fishing with his daughter who was also tossed into the water but survived.

Emergency crews from Mecosta and Newaygo counties started searching the river in an area off of M-20 near the River Ridge Resort around 10 a.m. Just after 4:30 p.m., the body was found about a mile from the M-20 Bridge in about 14 feet of water and about 50 yards offshore. Mecosta County Sheriff Todd Purcell said low visibility contributed to the hours-long search.
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Names of the victims have not yet been released.

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