Lake Michigan shipwreck scuba diver's body recovered
KENOSHA, Wis. - Dive teams in Kenosha County recovered the body Wednesday of a scuba diver who failed to resurface while exploring a Lake Michigan shipwreck the previous day.
The sheriff's department identified the diver as 72-year-old Patrick Kelly of Winthrop Harbor, Illinois. He was out on the lake with his wife on his 72nd birthday at the time.
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"She said that he just wanted to come out and go for a dive," said Kenosha County Sgt. Colin Coultrip.
Kelly was reported missing around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday approximately six miles from the Pleasant Prairie shore in more than 100 feet of water, according to the sheriff's department. His body, recovered Wednesday, was roughly 120 feet below the surface.
Dan Vaccaro
Dan Vaccaro, owner of Diver Dan's Scuba Center and a long-time friend of Kelly's, said Kelly was one of the best in the water. The incident is hard for him to digest.
"Dove with him for many years, my son dove with him too, and the diving community is close," he said.
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Wednesday's searches focused on the SS Wisconsin shipwreck, the sheriff's department said, and expanded out from that location using sonar devices and underwater remotely operated vehicles.
"He had experience doing anything on that wreck, he’s been in the wreck actually," Vaccaro said.
Authorities said accidents like this are not too common in the area, but in Lake Michigan, divers should be prepared for anything.
Photo of SS Wisconsin shipwreck
"Don’t expect Lake Michigan to be an inland lake, and no matter how skilled you may be," said Coultrip. "Accidents, unfortunately, can occur to anybody."
The investigation into what went wrong in the water remains ongoing.
"Was it equipment failure? Was something else wrong? Was it the weather? There are so many things that could go wrong," said Vaccaro. "Just give prayers to his family, that’s the big thing."