(WWJ) A Mid-Michigan man drowned on Sunday while trying to put his boat into Manistee Lake, according to authorities.
The Manistee County Sheriff's Office said 63-year old Gary Searles of Dewitt was with his wife launching their boat at the Stronach Boat Launch in Stronach Township, at around 2:40 p.m., when the boat started floating away from the dock.
Searles went into the water to try to get the boat, began to struggle, and went under, officials said.
Deputies found Searles facedown in the water. They pulled him out and performed CPR, but he died.
The Manistee County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in this incident by MMR EMS, Stronach Township Fire/EMS, the United States Coast Guard, the Michigan DNR, and Manistee County Central Dispatch.