FERRYSBURG, Mich. — The efforts are set to resume Monday morning to recover a man who is presumed dead after going missing in Lake Michigan.
The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office says John English, 47, was with a group of people on a pleasure cruise on Sunday, traveling from Muskegon to Grand Haven. About three miles from shore, the operator of the 37-foot Sea Ray asked if anyone wanted to go swimming, and English jumped in. He and the boat quickly became separated, and the operator sounded the ‘man overboard’ alarm while others tried to throw him flotation devices.
Twice, lifelines were thrown, but they were two short. A third attempt hit English in the head, and he was unable to grab the rescue line.
People on the boat lost sight of him. Dive teams with sonar equipment, along with the U.S. Coast Guard, attempted to locate him. Their efforts lasted well into Sunday night, but English was not found. He is presumed drowned as of Monday morning.
Teams will be back out to continue their recovery efforts early Monday.
