Drowning victim recovered
By DAN SCHNEIDER, DMG Writer
POSTED: May 19, 2008
ONTONAGON — Search and rescue workers recovered the body Sunday of a fisherman who fell overboard Thursday evening on Lake Gogebic.
The search for Louis Valetti, 69, of Ewen, stretched for more than two days. His body was recovered at about 10 a.m. Sunday in Bergland Bay of Lake Gogebic by the Michigan State Police Underwater Recovery Team.
Valetti fell out of a fishing boat in Bergland Bay at abut 9:45 p.m. Thursday and did not resurface.
“The victim possibly stood up in the boat, lost his balance and fell overboard causing the operator to fall out as well,” Ontonagon County Sheriff John Gravier said.
The operator, Richard Dale Newhouse of Bergland, was able to stay with the boat.
“He was rescued by boaters on shore who came to his rescue, who heard his shouts for help,” Gravier said.
Valetti’s body was found in the same vicinity of the boating accident, Gravier said.
The search for Valetti lasted nearly 12 hours both Friday and Saturday, beginning each day at 8 a.m. and ending between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Assisting the Ontonagon County Sheriff’s Office in the search and recovery effort were the U.S. Coast Guard, Michigan State Police Wakefield post, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Gogebic County Sheriff’s Office, Beacon and Sonco Ambulance, Marenisco and Bergland Fire Departments, American Red Cross, U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and the Headwaters Search and Rescue Dog unit.
The accident remains under investigation.
Dan Schneider can be reached at dschneider@mininggazette.com
