SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. — Around 3:30 p.m. on July 3, the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol Division responded to a report of a vessel in distress near North Beach in the 400 block of North Shore Drive.
At the time, an extreme thunderstorm warning was in effect over the area, producing torrential rain, powerful winds, dangerous lightning, and large waves on Lake Michigan. Despite the conditions and hazards to both rescuers and those in distress, the Marine Patrol immediately launched a response to assist.
Upon arrival, deputies found that the boat had suffered a complete loss of power and all motor controls, leaving it unable to maneuver in the hazardous conditions as it drifted near the shoreline…