(WWJ) An investigation is underway in the Grand Rapids area after two men drowned in Lake Michigan over the weekend.
Police responded to the Pigeon Lake Channel in Port Sheldon Township at around 1:15 p.m. Saturday, on a report of two people who were struggling in the water by the pier.
The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office said bystanders attempted to rescue the two men, but were unsuccessful.
The men were pulled from the water by emergency responders who began lifesaving measures, but both were declared dead at the scene.
One of then men was a identified as a 24-year-old from Illinois, and the other was a 26-year-old man from Ada, officials said.
Their names are not being released at this time.
The sheriff’s office was assisted at the scene by the Port Sheldon Township Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard.
It's not yet clear what factor led to the drownings, but even people who consider themselves to be strong swimmers have been known to get swept underwater while swimming near piers.
According to the National Weather Service, currents can be significantly stronger and much more unpredictable near piers and breakwalls in Lake Michigan. In the Great Lakes, the NWS and safety officials say swimming near these man-made structures is one of the leading causes of drowning in Lake Michigan.
