Sylvan Lake Local Found Drowned, Count Rises to 11 in Oakland County for the Year

A sad piece of news comes to light as another Sylvan Lake resident is reported drowned in Oakland County this year.

Last Friday night, rescuers discovered the lifeless body of an 84-year-old local Sylvan Lake man from the lake. The incident came to attention when his boat was spotted freely drifting in the lake earlier in the day.

Fatal Day on the Lake

Apparently, the man identified as Louis William Petro, had taken his personal 18-foot Glastron boat for a trip on the lake. He was alone and had started around 2:30 p.m. Later in the day, around 5:15 p.m., the unattended boat was found drifting in the middle of the water body.

Registering the seriousness of the situation, the fellow boaters alerted the authorities and also pooled efforts to tie up the free-moving boat, preventing it from causing more accidents. On inspection, officials found Petro’s personal belongings such as his cell phone, wallet, and car keys in the drifting boat.

Despite the extensive search, Petro was found only somewhere around 10 p.m. He was located about 200 feet from the shore and in a water zone of about five feet by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team. Preliminary reports hint at drowning as the cause of death. However, it’s to be noted that Petro was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident.

Drowning Increase Concern

This tragic event marked the 11th drowning incident in Oakland County for this year alone. Neither foul play nor any signs of struggle were indicated in Petro’s case. Furthermore, there doesn’t seem to be evidence of alcohol or drug use involved in the accident. Yet, even with Petro’s regular boater status, it’s a harsh reminder for everyone to take safety measures seriously while enjoying water bodies.

The sheriff, emphasizing the importance of safety precautions especially for those who are not confident swimmers or if they are alone on the water, strongly suggests the use of flotation devices. Truly, amidst the sorrow, the event serves as an alert about the potential dangers of water activities and the crucial need for precautions.

“In an already extremely tragic summer, the loss of another person while they were enjoying the water is very sad”, the sheriff made a heartfelt comment.