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Crews find body of missing man after kayak capsizes

Posted at 7:48 PM, Jul 09, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-11 03:36:29-04

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — Crews say they have recovered the body of a 23-year-old Coopersville man who drowned in Lake Michigan Saturday.

Crews started searching the lake near the Bil-Mar Restaurant on South Harbor Drive in Grand Haven around 7:00 p.m. Around 1:00 a.m. Sunday, crews found the body of Shelden Benson.

Witnesses said two people were seen hanging onto the boat when it capsized, according to police. Authorities believe the pair were around 200-300 yards away from shore, according to witness statements.

23-year-old Benson and a 21-year-old man from Jackson were kayaking in Lake Michigan between Lake Avenue and Grand Avenue when their boats capsized, said Jeff Hawke with Grand Haven Public Safety.

The 21-year-old man was able to swim to shore and was taken to the hospital, but Benson disappeared under water. Crews eventually found his body using side scan sonar.

Neither men were wearing life jackets, the 21-year-old man told police.