Missing boater found dead in Lake Erie lagoon
9/7/2010MONROE — A Michigan boater apparently drowned Monday night in a lagoon off Lake Erie near Detroit Edison Co.'s Fermi 2 nuclear plant, according to the Monroe County Sheriff' Office.
Harallamb Tasi, 24, of Westland, Mich., who had been missing for about 3 1/2 hours, was pronounced dead at the scene, sheriff deputies said.
The victim was found about 11:15 p.m. in eight feet of water in a small lagoon commonly known as the Hot Hole.
Sheriff deputies said Mr. Tasi was swimming with his friends about 7:40 p.m. when he swam off to retrieve a football they were throwing, went underwater, and never came up. Witnesses described the victim as a good swimmer, deputies said.
Participating in the search were a U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat and helicopter and the sheriff's office helicopter.
The incident remained under investigation. The official ruling on the cause of death was pending the results of an autopsy scheduled at Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office.