Boat used to removed deceased body from beach.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — The Mason County Sheriff’s Office marine patrol boat was being used to remove the body of a 55-year-old man from the beach Thursday evening, according to deputies on scene. Initially, emergency crews were dispatched to an unknown crash involving a motorized scooter (Moped) near the beach in the 3100 block of South Lakeshore Drive.

Upon arrival, law enforcement personnel determined the situation was not a trauma but rather a natural death. However, the man was located on the beach with a steep embankment, causing a motorized or manual rescue nearly impossible, deputies said. Riverton Township Fire Department was dispatched for the use of its all-terrain vehicle, however incident command determined the safest method of removing the body would be by boat. The Ludington fire and police marine patrol was initially called in as was the sheriff’s office marine patrol unit.

Also on scene were Mason County Sheriff’s Office road patrol deputies, Michigan State Police, Pere Marquette Township Fire Department and Life EMS ambulance.