Kayaker on Lake Michigan Water Trail Missing

[XLFD]

Ludington leaders are wanting to put in a 'water trail' trailhead at the West End of Ludington Avenue, complete with high profile canoe/kayak racks, kiosks for vendors renting these watercraft, and signs.  Not only will this ruin the scenic view of the lake for those approaching from Ludington Avenue, but it will greatly increase the city's (and ergo the city taxpayers) liabilities for those who use these small boats and take them out on the big lake. 

This is self-evident for most of Ludington's citizens, but hopefully our leaders, who continually go after state grants for such foolish ventures, will learn from others' experiences that this is a bad idea.  There has been a reason why private businesses haven't sprung up along Lake Michigan offering the rental of canoes/kayaks to take out beyond our safe harbors, it's because the navigation on the lake by such vessels is inherently unsafe-- and not as interesting as the interior lakes and rivers of Michigan where such businesses have prospered. 

Just off Grand Haven today, a two person kayak tipped over, presumably with help by one of the 3-5 foot waves on the lake.  One person made it to shore, the other has yet to be found almost three hours afterwards.  If Ludington used public money from the state to create and market their own trailhead at the West End, this could just have easily been us, using thousands of dollars of resources to rescue a person or recover a body. 

This is the same leadership that scrapped the lifeguard program seven years ago in the name of decreased liabilities, only to have three bodies in three separate incidents wash ashore the next year in Stearn's beach.  Do we really want to ruin the visual beauty of the west end of Ludington in order to create an unwanted water hazard?

The kayak tipped just off Grand Haven on the Lake Michigan Water Trail West (Southern).  Little is known at this point of the skill and experience of the kayakers, but as noted, the weather today was mild, but the waves were slightly wild, a combination which adds up to danger on the lake.

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (WOOD) — Emergency crews in Grand Haven are searching for a missing person in the water after a kayak accident Saturday evening.

Ottawa County emergency responders told 24 Hour News 8 that Grand Haven Public Safety officials along with the Coast Guard were responding to find the victim.

Crews were responding to the area near the Bil-Mar restaurant on South Harbor drive to search.

A staff member at Bil-Mar said that a kayak capsized with two people on board. One person was brought to shore but another remained missing as of 7:45 p.m.

No information was immediately released about the person they were searching for.

http://woodtv.com/2016/07/09/crews-searching-in-grand-haven-for-mis...

[Willy]

Sad news about the missing kayaker

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (WOOD) — Grand Haven Public Safety officers say they have recovered the body of a kayaker who went missing Saturday evening.

Officers say the body of 23-year-old Sheldon Benson of Coopersville was recovered at 1 a.m. Sunday by the Ottawa County North Dive Team. Crews used sonar to locate the body. Authorities say the Coast Guard aided in the recovery efforts.

The Grand Haven Department of Public Safety said they responded around 7:00 p.m. after witnesses reported seeing two people hanging from a capsized boat. One of the victims, a 21-year-old man from Jackson, was able to swim to shore.

Officers swam to the area witnesses reported, but were unable to find Benson from Coopersville. Authorities believe, based on statements from witnesses, that the pair were around 200-300 yards away from shore.

Crews continued to search for the second victim, with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol Division, as well as the Coast Guard, aiding in the search. A Coast Guard helicopter was brought out as well.

[XLFD]

Deadly Lake Michigan weekend, this incident plus some incidents off Indiana's shores.  Fortunately, one person was saved by lifeguards, two were drowned in Gary by the time first responders finally arrived.  Is there a lesson in there somewhere?

"...And it was a deadly weekend on the water in Gary.  First responders said two people drowned at the Wells Street Beach Saturday.  Another person was hospitalized.

A total of five people were pulled from Lake Michigan in Gary.  Tragedy was averted, however, for a struggling swimmer in Michigan City.  Life-guards rescued a young man from Lake Michigan at Washington Park Beach Saturday afternoon.  He was about 50 yards from shore.  Lifeguards used a truck to help tow him to safety.  He's now recovering at the hospital.

http://wsbt.com/news/local/deadly-weekend-on-lake-michigan

The man who drowned off Grand Haven was the boyfriend of the daughter of a friend of mine.  Very sad.

[AQUAMAN]

Yes,very sad loss of young kid's life, and why? Did he and his buddy rent that kyak? If they did, was it rented by a person, or kiosk? Either way, kids are using bad and dangerous judgments in many areas these days. Going out in the big Lake like Michigan in 3-5' waves and higher, is plain stupid, in any small craft that can't handle that kind of seas. Sad event.