.png)
Drowning victim’s body recovered from PM Lake.
#MasonCountyNews
LUDINGTON — The body of Jay Phillip Cutter, 38, of Manistee County, was recovered from Pere Marquette Lake Monday, June 18, at 8:46 p.m. after drowning Sunday evening, according to Ludington Police Chief Mark Barnett.
Cutter jumped off a boat, attempting to retrieve an inner tube, while boating with two other adults and three children on Father’s Day. Divers searched tirelessly for his body since his drowning.
Cutter’s body was located in 20-feet-deep water between the Ludington Boat Club and the Ludington Yacht Club using side scan sonar and a remotely operated vehicle, Barnett said.
His body was transported to Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital by Life EMS, and an autopsy will be conducted Tuesday in Kalamazoo, the chief said.
Shortly after 7 p.m. Sunday, members of the Ludington Police Department, Ludington Fire Department, Mason County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Coast Guard-Station Ludington responded to the drowning.
After jumping into the water to retrieve an inner tube that had blown into the lake due to the wind, Cutter “indicated that he was having trouble and the remaining occupants threw him a life jacket,” Barnett said. “However, the wind blew it away from him. The boat operator circled back around, and they were unable to locate Cutter in the water.”
Boat crews and divers from the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, the Ludington Police Department and the Michigan State Police conducted surface and underwater searches until his body was found.
“At this point there is no indication that alcohol played a part in the incident,” Barnett said.
This story is copyrighted © 2018, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
.jpg)
