Saginaw County, MI – A 5-year-old boy from Kalamazoo County is among nearly a dozen people who died in separate drowning incidents across Michigan over the July 4th holiday weekend, underscoring growing concerns about water safety during the busy summer season.
Authorities say the child was pulled from a private pond in Fremont Township late Friday, after Saginaw County sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of a possible drowning. According to the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Office, people at the scene had already begun life-saving measures before the boy was rushed to Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw. He died the following day. The boy’s name has not been released.
Officials reported a string of similar tragedies throughout the state. In Oakland County, the bodies of two men—Gerald Vernus Burge, 86, and Jason Dwane Brookshire, 49—were recovered from separate incidents in local waterways. In Mecosta County, divers found 34-year-old David Thompson of Taylor, Michigan, after he allegedly fell off a jet ski and drowned in Lake Mecosta.
Cheboygan County authorities responded to a double fatality at Burt Lake, where a 16-year-old and his 54-year-old father both died after entering the water in an attempt to rescue one another, according to sheriff’s officials. In Carrollton Township, Saginaw County, a 15-year-old boy died after being pulled from an in-ground pool at a large gathering Saturday evening.
According to law enforcement, most of the incidents occurred between Friday, July 4, and Sunday, July 6. Officials continue to urge Michigan residents and visitors to exercise caution around water and to never swim alone or unsupervised.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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