MILAN — A 21-year-old man who disappeared while swimming at Clean Water Beach died Sunday evening.
Security cleared the lake of swimmers and began a search that lasted 15 minutes, according to park owner and operator Charles Heath, before the man was recovered by divers. He was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Ann Arbor and passed away.
The man was reported missing by his friends, who told Heath they last saw him swimming in a deeper part of the lake.
State Police were among those on the scene and the park was closed shortly after the man was found, about an hour before the scheduled closing time of 8 p.m.
St. Joseph Mercy would not reveal the official cause of death, but if it is a drowning, it will be the first at Clean Water Beach in 23 years. The beach at the lake has been open 48 years and has an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 visitors a year.
“We have security guards, but no life guards,” Heath said. “You swim at your own risk.”
The man disappeared in a deeper part of the lake, which has areas roped off and well defined by depth.
