GREAT LAKES (NBC 26) — Officials said Lake Michigan drownings reached a record high this year as of September.
The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project (GLSRP) reported 53 drownings in Lake Michigan since the start of 2020. This broke the previous record of 49 drownings in 2012.
GLSRP said there have been 434 Lake Michigan drownings recorded since 2010. They said for the entire Great Lakes there have been 931 drownings since 2010, with 94 of those drownings in 2020.
According to GLSRP, there are an additional six drowning incidents with the victims last listed as "Critical Condition," "Unknown Condition," or "Missing." The group is awaiting updates on these incidents.
GLSRP staff remind everyone to be cautious of the wind, waves, and dangerous currents that can sweep them away. They said people should not walk on piers in windy conditions as the waves can wash them off and into Lake Michigan unexpectedly.
2020 Great Lakes drownings, by lake
(last updated by GLSRP in September 2020)
| Lake Name | Confirmed | Unknown |
| Lake Michigan | 53 | 4 |
| Lake Superior | 2 | |
| Lake Huron | 9 | |
| Lake Erie | 13 | |
| Lake Ontario | 17 | 2 |
Click herefor more information on the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project.
