By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
SHERIDAN TOWNSHIP — Two Grand Haven snowmobilers presumably drowned on Round Lake after their bodies were recovered Sunday afternoon, Dec. 14. Lake County Sheriff’s Office had initially taken the call after being notified that the two were missing and had reportedly by family members to have been on snowmobile trails in Lake County, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole.
“ The two had not been heard of for several hours prior,” Cole stated.
Around 4:30 a.m. Sunday, the search expanded out to include eastern Mason County. A searcher located snowmobile tracks entering onto Round Lake off Sugar Grove Road, Cole said. A search further did not show those tracks leaving the lake.
“Due to darkness and heavy snow falling a check of the lake from shore could not be performed,” Cole said. “At first light, what appeared to be a snowmobile helmet was seen out several hundred yards offshore on the ice.”
The Mason County Sheriff’s Office launched a drone when weather permitted and spotted a hole in the ice and confirmed a helmet present at the spot of the hole. Rescuers attempted to get to the area, but kept falling through the ice, make rescue efforts impossible, Cole said.
The Michigan State Police Dive Services Team and Mason County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team were called to assist and made their way onto the ice. An airboat from the Manistee County Sheriff’s Office was also requested and responded to the scene to support recovery efforts.
“Once assets were in place to ensure the safety of divers, efforts began to get to the hole in the ice. An MSP diver fell through the ice, but was properly tethered to another diver, and was pulled from the ice unharmed. During this operation the victims were both found.”
Cole said the bodies of two Grand Haven men, ages 65 and 49, were recovered in approximately 6 feet of water. Two snowmobiles were also found submerged under the ice.
Several agencies assisted during the search and during the recovery including Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police and MSP Dive Services, United States Coast Guard Station Manistee, Michigan Department of Natural Resources law enforcement, Fountain Area Fire Department, Branch Fire Department, Free Soil/Meade Fire Department, Ludington Fire Department, Hamlin Fire Department, Carr Community Fire Department, Luther Fire Department, Sauble Elk Eden Townships Fire Department (Lake County), Pleasant Plains Fire Department (Lake County), Norman Township Fire Department (Manistee County), Mason-Oceana 911 and Lake County 911.
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