ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Mich. – Officials recovered the bodies of two men who disappeared underwater in Port Huron on Wednesday, according to the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office.
The U.S. Coast Guard originally investigated the incident as a possible collision between a dinghy and a pontoon boat, but officials have learned there was not a collision.
UPDATE: Drowning victims identified
St. Clair County deputies received a call around 2:30 p.m. that a 47-year-old man from Port Huron was in the Black River near the I-94 bridge. The man was in a dinghy on the river when the wake from a larger boat tipped him over. Shortly after the first call, officials learned a 33-year-old man from the Detroit area going past on a pontoon boat saw the man in the water and jumped in to help.
Witnesses said the good Samaritan also disappeared under the water.
Investigators believe the water temperature was a big factor. Neither man had on a life vest.
“The cold water robs you of your strength so fast,” said Lt. Paul Reid, of the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office.