Windsurfer Dies After Falling Though Ice On Southeast MI Lake: Police

GENOA TOWNSHIP, MI — A 90-year-old Howell man drowned in a southeastern Michigan lake Wednesday afternoon after falling through ice, according to police.

Police said the man was wind sailing on Lake Chemung, in Genoa Township, which is in the area of Interstate 96 and Grand River Avenue, between Brighton and Howell, at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Witnesses told officers they saw the man fall through the ice with head was still above water, according to police.

Rescuers went out onto the lake and were able to reach the man and keep him above water, but they weren't able to get him out of the lake, according to police.

The Livingston County Dive Team also responded, but the divers couldn't get to the man because of poor ice conditions, and they couldn't use boats, according to police.

Officials then called for a rescue helicopter and were able to pull the man from the water using a rescue swimmer, according to police.

Officials tried using life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead, according to police.

Officials warned the public to stay off the ice, noting that recent changes in temperature have caused unsafe conditions with weakened and "honeycombed" ice.