A somber birthday remembrance took place on Lake St. Clair as search teams recovered the body of a jet skier who had gone missing after an accident. Jonathan Kloss of Chesterfield Township, who was celebrating his 22nd birthday, was found deceased in Anchor Bay on Friday afternoon, according to FOX 2 Detroit.
The search for Kloss had intensified after he and his friend, 19-year-old Hunter Lentine from New Baltimore, were thrown from their jet skis Thursday evening. Lentine was later found by the Coast Guard, unconscious but still wearing a life jacket, and is now recovering in an area hospital, CBS News Detroit reports.
Chesterfield Township Police Department and the Macomb County Sheriff's Office resumed the search for Kloss at 7:30 a.m. Friday, which tragically concluded when his body was found around 11:30 a.m. by the Macomb Sheriff Marine Division. The police have not indicated any signs of criminal activity and are treating the incident as an accident.
Meanwhile, the local community has been pouring out tributes to Kloss. Woodward Sports co-founder Sam "Stick" Day, where Kloss was employed, reflected on his character and work ethic. "Jon was the guy that just kind of walked in the door and asked for an internship out of nowhere," Day told FOX 2 Detroit. "He really had a passion for sports, and wanted to be a part of it in anyway possible."
The circumstances surrounding the jet skis flipping over remain unclear. The men were reportedly not wearing life jackets at the time of their accident, which exacerbated the peril they faced in the water, as emphasized by officials. Hoodline reported that the U.S. Coast Guard and local responders had previously conducted an extensive search covering 88 square miles using thermal imaging from a helicopter, but Kloss remained missing until Friday.
