Body recovered of man swept into Lake Superior in Marquette
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CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP -- Authorities Friday recovered the body of a man reportedly swept off Blackrocks in Marquette's Presque Isle Park the previous day.
The 62-year-old man from the Calumet area was knocked into the lake shortly before 3 p.m. Eastern time Thursday in what the Marquette City Fire Department called "a sad, harsh reminder of Lake Superior's power."
A gale on the world's largest freshwater lake created waves close to 20 feet high Thursday, presenting dramatic scenes tempting to photographers.
"The area was checked by first responders, but the male could not be located," the Marquette Police Department stated in a news release Thursday. "Due to lake conditions, a search on the water was unable to be conducted. A search of the water will be initiated when lake conditions allow."
The National Weather Service later Thursday afternoon issued a gale warning, predicting north winds between 25 to 30 knots with gusts up to 45 knots.
At 8:22 a.m. Eastern time Friday, "the Marquette Police Department and Chocolay Township Police Department responded to the report of a body in the water in the area of Lakewood Lane in Harvey," a news release stated Friday.
The site is about 7 miles southeast of where the man was last seen alive. Officers found the body "just off the beach and were able to recover it from the water."
No name was released at reporting time.
Assisting with the recovery Friday were the Chocolay Township Police Department, Marquette County Sheriff's Office, Chocolay Township Fire Department and UP Health System-Marquette EMS. The search Thursday had been carried out by the Marquette Fire Department, Marquette County Sheriff's Office, Northern Michigan University Police Department, Michigan DNR Conservation, UP Health System-Marquette EMS and the U.S. Coast Guard.
"Lake Superior is beautiful, but it demands respect. What can look like manageable waves from shore can quickly become life-threatening conditions. Powerful currents, crashing waves, cold water and sudden changes can turn into a tragic situation faster than you'd think," read a Facebook post from the Marquette City Fire Department. "Stay away from the water during rough conditions, keep your distance from the shoreline, and don't risk getting close for a picture or a better look. Enjoy its beauty, but respect its power and unpredictability. No picture, adventure or moment is worth your life."