MECOSTA COUNTY, MI (WHTC) – The Muskegon River has claimed two lives over the weekend.
A 47-year-old Big Rapids man was recovered in 14 feet of water around 4:35 p.m. Sunday. June 26. Lee Cooley was fishing with his 21-year-old daughter on the river near M-20 when heavy rain forced the two to return to a boat landing. The boat hit debris and they were thrown out of it.
Neither were wearing life jackets, but the unnamed woman was able to swim to the riverbank and received treatment at an area hospital.
On Saturday, the body of a 34-year-old man was recovered from the river in Newaygo. Witnesses told police he had been fishing on the riverbank before he went missing. The identity of that man was still not disclosed as of the Noon Hour on Monday.