According to the Huron County Sheriff’s Office, two 65-year-old men from Commerce Township were standing on a sandbar in the rough water of Saginaw Bay (Lake Huron) in Caseville Township on Thursday, August 11th at about 11 a.m., when a wave knocked them over.

One of the men could return to shore, while the other was dragged out further by what was thought to be a rip current. He vanished and was later discovered about 20 minutes later, about 400′ west of where he was last seen by friends and others who had begun searching for him.

Two Huron County Sheriff’s deputies arrived minutes after the initial 911 call and assisted in resuscitation efforts initiated by friends. Scheurer Ambulance Service transported the victim to Scheurer Hospital, where victim Kerry Atwell was pronounced dead after resuscitation was stopped at 12:36 p.m.

An autopsy has been ordered by the Huron County Medical Examiner’s Office for Monday. The Caseville fire department also assisted at the scene. Beachgoers should be cautious of rip currents when the water is rough, especially when northerly winds are present.