Three Drown In Lake Michigan This Weekend
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Sunny summer weather brought plenty of people to Lake Michigan this weekend, with sometimes deadly consequences.
Lake Michigan saw its 20th drowning so far this year with two men in Gary and one man in Grand Haven dying in the water on Saturday, according to Dave Benjamin, co-founder of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project.
"It is very unfortunate, but drowning can be pretty predictable when we're going to have warmer weather, with some north winds, and it occurring on a weekend," he said.
A 23-year-old man drowned Saturday while kayaking on the lake near Grand Haven, Michigan.
Two men, ages 26 and 37, also died Saturday near the air show in Gary, Indiana, while they were trying to rescue two children struggling in the water.
"Would-be rescuers often become the drowning victim as well. They don't have experience with water rescue, they normally don't have the physical stamina or the training," he said.
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Benjamin said the Gary drownings happened despite repeated warnings by the Surf Rescue Project and air show organizers not to swim, due to strong currents.
He said, if you are going to try to rescue someone else struggling in the water, you should first grab something that floats.
"Even if it's a football or soccer ball, you could easily throw to the person," Benjamin said. "An NFL football is enough flotation to keep an adult floating."
Benjamin estimated there could be another 12 drownings in Lake Michigan this year.
