Search for man in Lapeer County lake resumes

LAPEER COUNTY (WJRT) -- (08/16/09) -- Rescue crews spent Sunday searching Lake Nepessing in Lapeer County for a 45-year-old man.

UPDATE: Search teams will be back in the water early today (Monday) to continue the search for the missing missing man.

Police say he was last seen swimming with his kids on the southern end of the lake in Elba Township on the county's west side.

Dive teams from Lapeer County began searching Sunday afternoon when visibility was clear, but the choppy water and a fast moving current made the search more difficult.

Officials say the 45-year-old Lapeer doctor was in the lake with his kids around 1 p.m.  The family rented a pontoon boat from a nearby campground.

He is an average swimmer and has no medical problems.  The children where wearing floaties but the man was not wearing a life preserver vest.

Dive teams from Oakland and Sanilac counties also searched underwater in areas as deep as 12 feet.  Marine patrol blocked off portions of the lake to ensure everyone's safety.

"They were out there approximately an hour and he dove in and was swimming around with them," said Lt. James McLain.  "Somehow he came under distress and called out to his wife and they lost track of him."

Around 8 p.m., police informed the family the search mission changed from rescue to recovery.  Crews will begin searching again at 8 a.m.

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