GRAND HAVEN, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – Two men drowned in Lake Michigan Sunday as emegency responders teamed up with beachgoers to form rescue parties for multple people off the Grand Haven beach, according to a Grand Haven Department of Public Safety news release Sunday evening. Three survivors were hospitalized, one in serious condition.
The incidents start happening at noon, with second and third incidents at 3:22 p.m. and 3:48 p.m., according to police. During these incidents, several distressed swimmers were able to save themselves or were aided by other beachgoers in getting out of the water.
Officers responded to a report of a swimmer — later identified as David Knaffle, 64, of Wyoming — struggling in the water near the State Park Pavilion.
An off-duty East Grand Rapids fire fighter got into the water, attempting to save him. Five Grand Haven Public Safety officers and a park ranger also got into the water to aid in the rescue attempt, with beachgoers forming a human chain. Mr. Knaffle was found at 12:17 p.m., unresponsive, according to police, and rushed to North Ottawa Community Hospital while lCPR and toher life-saving efforts were underway. He was later declared dead.
GHDPS was assisted by State Park Personnel, United States Coast Guard Station Grand Haven, Ottawa County Sheriff Department, and NOCH Paramedics.
Beachgoers pulled a 46-year-old Alto man from the lake at 3:22 p.m. GHDPS officers and hospital paramedics provided emergency medical aid. This man was admitted to NOCH in serious condition, police said.
At 3:48 p.m., as officers responded to multiple reports of swimmers in distress north of the pavillion building, bystanders aided at least five swimmers from the water, including a 20-year-old Lake, MI, man and a 17-year-old woman, also from Lake. Both were admitted to North Ottawa.
A 20-year-old Lansing man, located in approximately 5 feet of water, was unresponsive and received emergency medical responsse until he arrived at North Ottawa Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name is being withheld, pending notificaiton of family members.
Additional reports of possible swimmers in distress were received simultaneously for areas near City Beach and south of City Beach. More than twenty Fire Fighters and Police Officers were assigned to rescue teams to search for possible victims. The additional reports and searches did not yield results and no other people have been reported missing.
GHDPS was assisted by the Grand Haven Township Fire Department, Spring Lake Fire Department, Ferrysburg Fire Department, Robinson Township Fire Department, Ottawa County Dive Team, Ottawa County Sheriff Department, NOCH Paramedics, and State Park personnel.
A beach hazards Statement for the waters of Lake Michigan off of Ottawa County had been issued before dawn on Sunday, with rip tides and other dangerous currents. Sunday was the last day of the U.S. Coast Guard Festival.
