MONROE, Mich. – A 80-year-old man who was pulled from Lake Erie on Tuesday in Bolles Harbor near Monroe has died.
The United States Coast Guard said two men were fishing in separate boats. One of them left shore 10 minutes earlier than the other. When he arrived at the spot where they were fishing he found the other man's boat with no one in it.
The Coast Guard was called. They found the man unresponsive in about 10 feet of water. He was wearing his life jacket. They performed CPR on him and transported him to a nearby hospital, but he later died.
He has been identified as Rich Gala, of Royal Oak. Gala was an experienced boater and fisherman who often was out in the water, usually by himself.
It's not clear if this was an accident or a health issue that caused Gala's death. The medical examiner will have to answer that question.
For now, it's being called an accidental drowning.
Stay with ClickOnDetroit and Local 4 for more information as it becomes available.