Dive Teams Search Lake St. Clair For Missing Man Who Jumped In To Help Woman

ST. CLAIRE SHORES (WWJ) - Macomb County dives teams are searching Lake St. Clair for a boater, missing since Monday night.

Authorities say a 33-year-old Shelby Township man, who was part of a party of seven, never resurfaced after he jumped into the water to help a woman who was pushed overboard.

Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said alcohol may be a factor in the case. He described how it happened, at around 7 p.m. Monday.

"It appears that one of the occupants, a female occupant, was attempting to go to the bathroom while one the boat — off the side of the boat — when another female on that boat thought it'd be a cute idea to push her into the water," Wickersham told WWJ's Charlie Langton.

"At that point she went into the water, was not a good swimmer — they could see that she was in distress," he said. "Two other occupants jumped off the boat (to help); one being our victim."

Wickersham said the woman was rescued.

Tuesday morning, six master divers, a helicopter and the Macomb County Marine Division were searching the area of the lake where the man disappeared — just off the mouth of the Clinton River.

With storms in the forecast, Wickersham said there were concerns that the weather could impact the search.

The missing man's name has not been released.

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