(WWJ) Authorities are reminding Metro Detroiters to exercise caution on the lakes, after a tragedy marked the first weekend of summer in Oakland County.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, a 25-year-old Detroit man drowned on Sunday on Cass Lake in Keego Harbor.
According to investigators, the man was on a boat with four other people went into the water at around 4:15 p.m., thinking they were in a shallow area.
However, the water was actually 55 feet deep, and the man did not know how to swim.
A friend jumped in and was able to get the man to the surface momentarily. However, the man was panicked, the friend couldn't hold onto him, and he eventually slipped underwater.
The sheriff's office said conflicting information as to exactly where the man went into the water hampered rescue efforts, but once divers located the approximate location — about 1,700 feet from the shoreline — they quickly found the man.
First responders performed CPR, but were unable to save his life.
“With the onset of warmer weather and a substantial increase in water activity, we urge people to employ flotation devices and wear them if they are not strong swimmers, irrespective of the situation,” said Sheriff Mike Bouchard. “Additionally, it is crucial to have life-saving equipment on board boats to rescue individuals in distress. An enjoyable day on the water can rapidly become a tragic moment.”