57-year-old man dead after S.C.U.B.A. diving incident

Man was diving alone

MARINE CITY, Mich. – A 57-year-old Fairhaven man named James Allen Fox drowned Sunday morning while S.C.U.B.A. diving in the St. Clair River near the 500 block of S. Water Street.

A witness called 911 to tell authorities that a diver surfaced in the water and yelled for help before submerging again. The diver was participating with a group of S.C.U.B.A. divers, but was alone at the time of the incident.

The witness told another diver from the group, who was on the shore and preparing for another dive. The second diver entered the water and searched for the victim, eventually finding him lifeless in about 20 to 25 feet of water.

The diver pulled the victim out of the water where Marine City Fire Department and Tri-Hospital Emergency Medical Service personnel were waiting. Despite life-saving efforts by those personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the River District Hospital.

"This is an example of a summer day of water recreation turned tragic," said Marine City mayor Raymond Skotarczyk. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the Fox family."