Dive teams recover recent grad's body

FRUITLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - Dive teams have recovered the body of an 18-year-old boy from Duck Lake after he went under while attempting to swim across the channel.

Justin Pitz, a resident of Fruitland Township, was trying to cross the channel between Duck Lake and Lake Michigan in Muskegon County with his 10-year-old cousin when authorities said he had difficulty breathing and went under.

Police said they were about 100 yards into the swim when the 18-year-old went under around 7:30 Friday night. The cousin was able to make it back to shore and called 911 for help.

The Muskegon County Sheriff's Department, along with four other departments with dive teams, were searching for the teenager's body for about three hours.

Residents near the Duck Lake area said they have never seen a drowning on the lake because the waters are so calm.

Tammy Lawton, Justin's mother, told 24 Hour News 8 her son had recently graduated from Reeths-Puffer High School in Muskegon on June 5. His open house was scheduled for June 30 and is now canceled.