The old saying that bad things happen in threes seems to be playing out in Ludington this summer. I'm truly stunned that another man has lost his life while out on the
breakwater. Once again, my condolences to his loved ones. 

Few details have been reported regarding this most recent incident. Apparently a fisherman from out of town "lost his footing and fell into Lake Michigan." I don't subscribe to the LDN, so I only get the brief version when I go to the website. Does anyone know the facts? Did this gentleman slip and fall because he was too close to the edge, did he have a heart attack and collapse, or what? Was his death by drowning? What were the weather conditions yesterday when this occurred?




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Is this the one who fell in the river near Scottville this week or another one?
This is another one. I believe it happened Friday at the lighthouse.
Here's the story from the E-edition LDN Saturday:

Man dies after falling off breakwater
LDN Staff - Saturday, September 18, 2010

A 49-year-old Indiana man has died after falling off the north breakwater this morning, police say.
Timothy Spiller, of Columbia City, Indiana, was fishing with his wife and father on the light house platform when he lost his footing and fell into Lake Michigan around 6:30 Saturday morning.

Those on the breakwater attempted to rescue him. A boat passing nearby heard yelling and was able to locate Spiller in the water and secure him in the water.

The Coast Guard recovered Spiller from them and Spiller was taken to Memorial Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.

The Ludington Police Department, Ludinton Fire Department, Mason County Sheriff's Office Marine Division, Life EMS and Mason County Victims Assistance Unit assisted at the scene.

This is one the lifeguard program would have never been able to save, since they not only wouldn't have been in that area, but also because they would be in school or college.

An unfortunate incident probably caused by slippery conditions at the lighthouse. Railings or dimpled concrete (for traction) may have prevented this, and should be considered in making a case for the Army Corps of Engineers to look into.
Wow I missed this one. I was confused because they said yesterday that fisherman who fell out of boat on river near Scottville did die. What a summer. Isn't the number above 70 now for people drowning in Lake MI this year?
Saturday about 5pm, I talked with another fellow boater at the marina whom actually witnessed the drowning man, about 6:30am, and pulled him from the lake on their way out fishing. All they could say is it looked like he slipped over the side by the lighthouse, then floundered in the water to get to the ladder, then disappeared for a few moments, only to float up to the top face down. My guy actually reached in and retrieved the 280+ pound man, possibly breaking his arm while pulling him into the boat. The USCG then arrived and took him aboard their vessel to the station. My guy and his crew were then duty-bound to stay at the station the rest of the morning answering questions by all officials involved. They did not get to fish anymore that day, and were in shock from the event. A sad loss again! His wife and dad were right next to him on the pier and were helpless to assist, except yell for help, which any boater would do in such a case when nearby. I've heard the same stats Masonco, it's the highest recorded number of deaths in Lake Michigan since they started keeping those records. The mean average in the past was in the 30-40's for lost souls.
As of September 13, there were 69 drownings, and this one makes it at least 70, provided nobody else drowned along Lake Michigan anywhere. The two near misses we had earlier this summer at Stearn's Park, was perhaps a notice to our area of what was to come. The last two freak accidents near the lighthouse showed we ran out of luck somewhere down the line.

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