Man Drowns In Oakland County Lake: Sheriff

KEEGO HARBOR, MI — A man drowned in an Oakland County lake on Sunday, according to the sheriff's office.

The incident happened at 4:15 p.m. Sunday at Cass Lake in Keego Harbor, officials said.

Officials said the 26-year-old Detroit man, whose name wasn't released, was on a 20-foot boat with four other people on the lake. Officials said the boat had been trolling over a sandbar, but then moved into deeper water.

That's when the man jumped into the water and lost contact with the boat, officials said.

Officials believe the man, who could not swim, did not know the boat had moved into deeper water.

A friend jumped into the water to help him, but was only able to bring him to the surface momentarily because the man was panicking and the friend could not hold him, officials said.

Officials said divers found the man roughly 1,700 feet from the shoreline. First responders administered CPR before the man was taken to a nearby hospital where he died.

"With the onset of warmer weather and a substantial increase in water activity, we urge people to employ flotation devices and wear them if they are not strong swimmers, irrespective of the situation," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. "Additionally, it is crucial to have life-saving equipment on board boats to rescue individuals in distress. An enjoyable day on the water can rapidly become a tragic moment."