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Divers recover Detroit teen's body from Belleville Lake

17-year-old jumped off boat Wednesday but never resurfaced

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VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The body of a 17-year-old Detroit boy has been pulled from Belleville Lake.

The teen jumped off a boat Wednesday afternoon, but never resurfaced. Crews searched late into the night Wednesday and then suspended the search overnight.

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The search resumed at 6 a.m. Thursday and at about 10:10 a.m., divers from the Van Buren Public Safety Dive Team found the teen's body. He has been turned over to the Wayne County Medical Examiner.

"Probably over the course of the last 5 to 6 years, we've had a drowning every year," said Van Buren Township Fire Chief Daniel Besson. "This lake does have a tendency to take a victim every year."

Besson said the dive team's search became a recovery effort after about an hour and 1/2 of the teen missing.

"At this point we do not suspect any foul play ... but it will be up to an autopsy to determine that," he said.

Besson said the police department is investigating the death.

The teen's family members had been hopeful.

"He was out on the boat with his dad and he told his dad he could swim, and they said he jumped in," said Jan London, the teen's grandmother. "He's a 17-year-old young boy. He's got a lot of kid in him. He loves to play, he's fun. He thought he could swim."

Raw video: Grandmother of missing teen speaks to Local 4

London said her grandson had just graduated from Detroit's Osborn High School.

"I'm looking for a miracle. That's all I'm looking for, a miracle," she said. "I just need everybody's prayer."


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