An 18-year-old Ohio man drowned in Lake Michigan off Grand Haven City Beach, authorities confirmed. Identified as Isaiah Edmond, the teen was swimming yesterday afternoon when he began struggling in the water beyond the designated buoys. According to CBS News Detroit, a friend and fellow beachgoers utilized a life ring to bring him back to shore, but Edmond was unresponsive upon being pulled from the water.
Despite the immediate life-saving attempts by police and paramedics who performed CPR, Edmond could not be resuscitated and was pronounced dead at the scene. The FOX 17 report noted that at the time of the incident, a Beach Hazard Statement was in effect, cautioning against strong currents and waves reaching up to five feet in height.
On the day of the incident, conditions at Grand Haven State Park were particularly treacherous, with officials issuing a red flag warning advising against swimming. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends during this difficult time," the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety said in a statement obtained by WZZM 13. Witnesses have reported that the victim was not wearing a life jacket when he encountered trouble in the water.
Highlighting the dangers posed by the Great Lake, Dave Benjamin, co-founder of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, emphasized the risks of attempting rescues, especially in the absence of lifeguards. "If you're heading out to Lake Michigan, especially in Michigan State Park beaches, there are no lifeguards. So if you are struggling in the water, you're pretty much on your own," Benjamin told WZZM 13. He advised against untrained bystanders forming human chains to attempt rescues, which could put more lives in danger and cause lasting trauma. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project has reported a total of 51 Great Lakes drownings in 2025, with Lake Michigan accounting for 22 of those fatalities.
