Waterford Township man dies in apparent drowning in Oakland County lake

(CBS DETROIT)After being discovered unconscious in an Oakland County lake on Monday evening, a man from Waterford Township passed away on Tuesday.

Joselito Estonilo Garcia, 61, was discovered by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office beneath a dock near Maceday Lake. At approximately 9:42 p.m. on Monday, a 911 caller reported hearing a person calling for assistance and the sound of someone flailing in the water, prompting the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team to rush to the 3700 block of Austinwood in Waterford Township.

After discovering Garcia’s body, rescuers administered CPR and other life-saving techniques. After being transported to a nearby hospital, he passed away on Tuesday morning.

After being informed that there might have been another person in the water, deputies investigated other areas of the lake, but they were unable to locate anyone else.

In 2024, this is the thirteenth drowning in a lake in Oakland County.

In a statement, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said, “This year has been incredibly tragic for drownings in Oakland County.” Unfortunately, drinking alcohol is a common factor in many drowning threads. That is also being investigated in this case. We encourage everyone to use caution when near water.

Garcia’s entrance into the lake is unknown to investigators. Authorities think the man’s death may have been caused by drinking.

Tuesday is set aside for an autopsy.

Joe Buczek works for CBS Detroit as the manager of digital content and promotion. The Leader and the Kalkaskian, the Oakland Press, the Morning Sun, the Grand Traverse Insider, and WWTV were among his prior employers.

Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!