Ann Arbor boy dies after canoe overturns in Lake Michigan

8-year-old boy, father suffer hypothermia after canoe overturns in Lake Michigan

DETROIT – An 8-year-old Ann Arbor boy died Monday after the canoe he and his father were in overturned in Lake Michigan near Sleeping Bear Point.

The Leelanau County Sheriff's Office says the boy and his 48-year-old father had canoed from D.H. Campgrounds to North Manitou Island. They spent about an hour and 1/2 on the island before attempting to canoe back to the mainland.

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However, the canoe overturned about 1/2 mile from shore. The father used his cellphone to call D.H. Campgrounds to alert them he and his son were in the water. That prompted an emergency response.

The U.S. Coast Guard, National Park Service, Leelanau County Sheriff's Office and Glen Arbor Fire Department all joined in the response. The Coast Guard helicopter found the overturned canoe with the father and son. They were pulled from the water. The boy was airlifted to Munson Hospital. The father was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

Both were wearing life jackets and suffering from hypothermia. The boy died at the hospital.

The water temperature was reported to be 55 degrees at the time.