BERRIEN SPRINGS, Mich. (June 3, 2014) — The body of a 17 year-old boy was pulled from Lake Chapin before noon, Tuesday.
The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department started their search Monday evening but called it off when it got too dark. The search started again Tuesday around 8 a.m.
Captain Paul Toliver said two teens had swam out to concrete barriers in the middle of the lake when one of them started to struggle.
“This is the type of thing that can unfortunately happen with this type of activity,” explained Captain Toliver.
“There is a swift current moving through here because it is a dammed up river. It’s better not to swim to these abutments or jump off them.”
Divers combed the area near the abutments and over to the dam, where conditions beneath the water were less than ideal.
“Lake Chapin is very low visibility, even with sunlight,” said Captain Toliver. “There’s a lot of water movement, a lot of current. There is a lot of cloudiness and debris to the water.”
Neighbors say the 17 year-old victim was from Iowa and in town to visit his cousin.
