Lake Michigan: The Deadliest Great Lake

Nearly half of the people who drown in the Great Lakes every year drown in Lake Michigan, and 2020 is already the deadliest year for drownings in Lake Michigan in at least 10 years. Family members of drowning victims share their stories in hopes of preventing other from experiencing the same tragedy.

[videomaniac]

I was born in Chicago and used to go to the beaches all the time during the summer. One time when I was at a beach north of Foster Avenue in 1961 or 1962 I was swimming in water over my head and away from the crowd when I encountered what I later learned was an undertow. I was only about 10 years old but I was a strong swimmer but I exhausted myself trying to fight to get to the surface. When I realized that my struggles were in vain and that nobody had heard me I got calm and accepted the fact that I was going to open my mouth, inhale water and die. The thing that was the saddest for me was that I would never get to see my mom and the other children again. Just in time a pair of strong arms pulled me out of the water and brought me to the sand. I wish I could thank that lifeguard today.

[tammypeters]

This is so true! My husband drowned in Lake Michigan, in New Buffalo, a mile from shore, swimming from our boat over to a friend's boat just maybe 30' away. The undertow pulled him under and when his friend realized what was happening it was too late. That lake didn't give him up for 7 days. Funny thing was, my husband always said, when he died he wanted his ashes sprinkled in Lake MI. I said the lake had him long enough. His urn has a beautiful water scene with seagulls and a lighthouse.

[sophiedash]

Wow. My nephew, Brandon Chambers, drowned due to a riptide in Lake Michigan 2 weeks before this video was posted. He was 18 years old, had just graduated from high school, and was celebrating Labor Day weekend at the beach with his friends... We miss you Brandon. 💔

[rebeccalynn]

After losing my father to this lake in a rip tide, I want to thank you for warning other people. I agree. We need more lifeguards. Thank you for telling us how to float our way out of these currents.

[charlesippel]

Thank you and thank you to the families that participated in this film. My heart breaks for you.

[oldjarhead]

I was a U.S. Marine that was Water Survival Qualified. Surviving in rough fresh water is many more times more difficult than salt water. In salt water you can literally do nothing but lean back and relax and you can float all day. It’s much more difficult in fresh water because the water provides much less buoyancy. In rough fresh water it maybe impossible unless you are young, well trained and in great condition.

[RickeyHaynes]

I almost died with my sister in New Buffalo Michigan. My sister told me I'm going to give up and drown all the sudden we were sucked to the shoreline it seemed so fast and we were walking on the beach crying our eyes out nobody understood why. That experience is why I believe in God I was in 7th grade I have never been more scared in my entire life.

[nancylepri]

As a kid it was always fun but dangerous to see how far out you could go...glad I never went too far out.

[gulpyboi]

i was 6 and i nearly drowned right off of silver beach, this grown man realizing i was drowning ran into the water and saved me and i wonder about him to this day

[reesebrindle]

Respect the Lake. I live on this lake and have my whole life. If I can say anything about it....respect it. Pay attention to warnings and listen to a weather radio. Stay out when the flags are flying that say to. Most people here drown because they ignore the posted warnings.

[rebeccalynn]

I hope we incorporate this video to local schools, so we can teach our kids how to be safer.

[mickeyjhp]

I live in Manistique, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula. Less than two blocks from where I live, is the Manistique boardwalk. Despite tons of warning signs, as well as locals like myself, informing tourists how dangerous swimming is by our lighthouse pier, people STILL swim there all of the time. We have had numerous drownings there. No locals ever swim there. I just wish the tourists would listen.

[JackBQuick]

I learned how to swim in lake Michigan. Every weekend, my family camped on the lake shore. As a child you cant possibly understand the risks. As an adult i am on edge when my children are thoughtlessly and fearlessly playing in lake Michigan.

[justusfive]

When she said they slept on the beach that night so he wouldn't be by himself! That broke my heart!😣

[sdg]

Remember that one of the biggest reasons half of Great Lakes drowning is from Lake Michigan, is cause nearly half of all Great Lake tourism is to Lake Michigan.

[tiddiesprinkles]

I've lived a mile from Pere Marquette Beachfor 20 years and every time I hear sirens going to there my heart breaks...

[jeffzuiderveen]

Grand Haven, August 5, 2018....I was caught in a rip current 200' south of the pier. I was lucky, I spent 8 days in the ICU . I was one of 3 that were rescued and brought to the ER, I was the only one who survived. Several people were responsible for saving me. So "tall-thin guy" and " mountain man"....if you are out there, thank you.

[djgenius]

I am from New York, I use to get deployed to a base in Wisconsin for training, thought that lake was the ocean, , , water was rough!!

[salvitoripopadillo]

I'm very sorry for the families who have lost loved ones to these inland seas. As a rare midwest surfer, I know first hand how dangerous these lakes can be. I spent a decade surfing in the Oceans and then moved back home to MN to be with family. I only then discovered surf on the great lakes. It's amazingly different to the Ocean. Wave periods are very short. Currents are crazy strong(like the Oceans) and you're less buoyant because there is no salt. Also, on my lake (Superior) it's colder than most places people surf And the waves can get up to 25 feet!

[roarinfireball]

I’m glad a survivor was willing to talk about his NDE on the Great Lakes. People, particularly tourists don’t actually realize how dangerous the Great Lakes actually are. They are called lakes, but they have the strength of a sea.