Missing Lake Michigan Swimmers Recovered
SAUGATUCK (WWJ/AP) - Authorities say both swimmers who were swept out into Lake Michigan off Saugatuck Dunes State Park on Tuesday have been recovered.
Authorities tell WZZM-TV, the body of Daniel James Reed, 46, was found late Wednesday afternoon near Oval Beach and the body of Bradley Alan Stoner, 22, was located late Wednesday night about three miles south of the Saugatuck Piers. Allegan County sheriff's deputies say the men presumably drowned.
According to witnesses, Stoner, from Livonia, and Reed, from Redford, were out swimming when they started struggling in a rip current. It was a rough day on the water, with waves five to eight feet high. The National Weather Service issued an alert warning people to stay out of the water due to a high risk of rip currents.
The waves and rip currents also hampered efforts by divers to search the lake. The Coast Guard suspended their search, which involved aircraft and boats from the U.S. and Canada, Wednesday afternoon before Reed's body was found.
Saugatuck Dunes State Park is in Allegan County's Saugatuck Township, about 35 miles southwest of Grand Rapids.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
