Teen drowns while tubing in Newaygo Co.

MERRILL, Mich. (WOOD) - A teenager from metro Detroit drowned Tuesday during a trip to a northern Newaygo County lake.

Police said Joshua Mullens, 18, from Oak Park was on an innertube that was being pulled by a personal watercraft on Woodland Lake in Merrill.

He was wearing a life jacket during the activity. But sheriff's department officials told 24 Hour News 8 he eventually took it off and at one point fell off the tube and into the water.

When Joshua didn't return to the surface after going under the water, witnesses called 911.

A sheriff's department dive team found his body just before 6 p.m after about an hour of searching.

Emergency responders attempted to revive Joshua but were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at the scene.