Tragic Double Drowning at Maple Bay Campground in Cheboygan County – Break Out News

Cheboygan, MI – July 5, 2025 — A devastating incident has shaken the Cheboygan County community, as a father and son from Levering tragically drowned in Burt Lake near Maple Bay Campground in Burt Township on Saturday afternoon.

According to the Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a distress call at approximately 3:21 p.m. reporting two individuals struggling in the water. Witnesses at the scene indicated that a 16-year-old male had been underwater for approximately seven minutes before his 54-year-old father entered the water in an attempt to rescue him. Tragically, both became submerged and unresponsive.

The Cheboygan County Marine Patrol, assisted by nearby bystanders, arrived swiftly and located both victims underwater. The 54-year-old father was pulled from the lake first, followed by his son moments later.

Emergency crews transported both individuals to the Maple Bay Boat Launch, where life-saving measures were immediately initiated. Despite their efforts, the father was pronounced dead at the scene, and the teenage son was later pronounced deceased at McLaren Petoskey Hospital.

The Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that drugs and alcohol are not suspected to have played a role in the incident. An investigation remains ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the drownings.

This heartbreaking event has left the local community mourning the tragic loss of two lives—a brave father and his young son—whose final moments were marked by courage, love, and the devastating power of nature.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.