Ottawa Hills man found dead in lake

7/14/2009

An Ottawa Hills man was killed over the weekend when his canoe capsized in Burt Lake near Cheboygan, Mich.

James E. Durfee, 45, was found in the water shortly before 9 a.m. Sunday, the Cheboygan County Sheriff's office said.

Mr. Durfee apparently had shouted for help and then disappeared. A resident immediately took a personal watercraft to the area, but could not find him.

He was later found in about 10 feet of water about 200 feet from shore. Mr. Durfee was not wearing a life jacket, authorities said.

The drowning was the northern Michigan county's second for the weekend.