Man Drowns in Coldwater While Kayaking Thursday

A man who had been kayaking on a channel between lakes in Coldwater was found dead Thursday night.

WWMT says that Coldwater Police were the first to respond, after a bystander saw someone in a kayak flip over and scream for help before going under around 6:20pm Thursday; the kayaker had been in a channel between South Lake and Cemetery Lake. The Branch County Marine Division was called in and had a boat searching the channel, and a Michigan State Police helicopter was used as well.

Around 9:30pm, authorities say that a man's body was found a few yards from where the kayaker was seen going under, and he was pronounced dead. On Friday, Coldwater Public Safety Officials identified the man as 26-year-old Alec Walter Beaumont.

This drowning comes as many portions of southwestern and southern Michigan have experienced a large amount of rainfall, bringing high water levels and at times flooding and flood advisories.