Body of boater found in Lake Erie identified

6/16/2011

MONROE — The body of a woman recovered Wednesday floating along the shore of Lake Erie, north of the Fermi II Nuclear Power Plant, has been identified.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said Susan Zatek of Livonia, Mich., was last known to be fishing on Lake Erie alone on Tuesday.

Her body was pulled from the water shortly after she was spotted floating along the shore at about 7:15 a.m. Wednesday . An autopsy performed Wednesday afternoon resulted in an accidental death ruling, authorities said.

During the rescue, the sheriff’s dive team, marine division, and a U.S. Coast Guard vessel were dispatched, but could not reach the body because of rough water and the water’s depth. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter was able to recover the body and transport the victim to the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office A search began Tuesday night after the sheriff’s office received an emergency call from a boater that an empty 21-foot boat, registered to Ms. Zatek, was floating one mile from the Estral Beach shore.