Another Tragic Drowning Hits Oakland County
In Milford Township, tragedy struck again as a fourth individual drowned in an Oakland County lake within just three weeks. The latest victim was a 21-year-old Detroit man who encountered difficulties while swimming at Martindale Beach, a popular spot in Kensington Metropark.
A Distressing Incident
The young man had been enjoying a swim with a friend on the evening of Saturday, July 27 when he began struggling and disappeared beneath the water’s surface. Despite within the marked swimming area, he couldn’t hold onto a buoy close by. The distress was compounded by language barriers. His friend, a non-English speaker, found it problematic to articulate their predicaments to those on the shore.
Another swimmer eventually noticed his dismal situation and alerted the authorities. After an intense search, divers retrieved the young man’s body in depths of 6-8 feet around 50 yards from the shore. He was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
A Word of Caution
This heartbreaking event has led Oakland County’s Sheriff to urge people to exercise utmost safety precautions when enjoying the county’s lakes. Sheriff Michael Bouchard advises: “have emergency capabilities nearby, including flotation devices, and watch each other while in the water.” He stressed on the importance of wearing a flotation device, especially if you are not a strong swimmer.
An Unfortunate Trend
This year has been particularly devastating with a total of ten deaths at Oakland County lakes reported so far. The last few weeks, in particular, have been exceptionally tragic with four drownings : a 62-year-old man on July 6 in White Lake, a 21-year-old from Highland Township at Townsend Lake on Independence Township on July 16, and a 20-year-old Detroit man at Taylor Lake in Rose Township.
As investigations continue, the community is urged to remain vigilant and prioritize safety while enjoying the county’s natural beauty.
Author: STAFF HERE NOVI WRITER
The NOVI STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENovi.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Novi, Oakland County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Motor City Comic Con, Michigan State Fair, and Novi Home and Garden Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Novi Chamber of Commerce and Novi Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in automotive, technology, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Gentherm, Stoneridge, and Daifuku North America. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
