Body of swimmer pulled from Lake Erie

7/9/2009

ROCKWOOD, Mich. - Boaters pulled the body of a swimmer out of Lake Erie waters late Wednesday near this community, authorities said.

The man, who appears to be about 65 years old, was not identified, Michigan State Police said.

The body was pulled from the water about 9 p.m. at Pointe Mouille State Game Area in Monroe County's Berlin Township. There were no signs of foul play, police said.

U.S. and Canadian authorities on Monday spent hours searching to no avail for a 65-year-old man near the point at which the Detroit River flows into western Lake Erie.

Officials from the U.S. Coast Guard said crews as far south as Toledo were brought in for the search, which began in northern Monroe County upon notification of the man's disappearance at 2:46 p.m. on Monday. The area that was searched is just south of the Lake Erie Metropark.

A spokesman for the Coast Guard station in Detroit, which was coordinating the search, said the man went swimming in shallow water off the Pointe Mouille State Game Area with a male companion as their boat was anchored. The boat's anchor worked itself loose, though, stranding the pair in the water.

The two men were unable to stay together. One was rescued shortly after the ordeal began, the spokesman said.

Rockwood is about 35 miles northeast of Toledo.