Divers recover body of missing Hamburg Township man at Zukey Lake
The body of a Hamburg Township man who drowned in Zukey Lake was recovered this afternoon, two days after he went under in the lake as he helped save his 15-year-old son from drowning.
Divers with the Michigan State Police and Livingston County Sheriff’s Office recovered the body of 58-year-old Dennis Regal in about 30 feet of water at 12:45 p.m., Hamburg Township Police Chief Steve Luciano said.
An autopsy will be conducted by the Livington County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of death, Luciano said. The body was recovered in the area where witnesses said Regal went under Monday night, Luciano said.
Dennis Regal
Regal went out on the lake in his 25-foot pontoon boat at 4:30 p.m. Monday with his son Kip and Kip’s 15-year-old friend Keegan Forbes, family members said. All three jumped in the water to go for a quick swim when the boat drifted away, Kip said.
It took Keegan several minutes to swim to the boat and another minute to drive it back to Kip and his father. By then, Dennis Regal had gone under.
Regal did not have life insurance. Donations to the family can be made in care of Regal's wife Lori Regal at TCF Bank on Main Street in Dexter Village.
The funeral is planned for Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 10585 Hamburg Rd. in Hamburg Township. A wake follows at 1 p.m. at the Livingston County Wildlife and Conservation Club, 6060 M-36 in Hamburg.
Lee Higgins is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and e-mail at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
jimmy joe
Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 1:08 a.m.
Veracity, well first of all, it states they were going for a quick swim. going for a quick swim means jumping in and then getting back in. obviously they did not intentionally mean to lose the boat. also why the fuck does it matter the experience level of the swimmers? drowning can happen at any time from the slightest mishap, even getting water in your mouth, then choking no matter the experience. and life insurance has nothing to do with affording a pontoon boat for the family. denny got that pontoon boat for his family, not him. well what im trying to clearly state, is that you need to fuck your self, 3 times. hey and uh, go fuck yourself
Cash
Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 1:47 p.m.
Veracity, Really...we do not know when this man got his pontoon boat. He could have had it for years (some people make their own pontoons boats)...and he could have just lost a job like many people and lost his benefits, including life insurance. Poor time to critique his judgment. May he rest in peace.
DaLast word
Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 1:26 p.m.
Very sad. If you are going to leave the boat, drop anchore.
Veracity
Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 9:40 a.m.
Sad story but also confusing. The story begins by stating that the father was trying to save his son from drowning. However, the detailed description of the incident has both father and son going into the water for a swim. Subsequently, the father went under the water while the boy was not described as having difficulty in the water. The swimming skills of either swimmer is not mentioned. Swimming should be considered a mandatory skill. Some schools require basic swimming ability be demonstrated before graduating. Furthermore, basic water safety knowledge and life saving techniques should be acquired as well. Finally, if life insurance coverage can not be afforded then neither should a 25-foot pontoon boat. In this tragedy lessons can be learned.
Hunterjim
Wed, Jul 7, 2010 : 7:07 p.m.
Make that a "Lifejacket"...
Hunterjim
Wed, Jul 7, 2010 : 3:42 p.m.
Such a sad story. He was a hero. A good reminder that even when we are good swimmers, it sometimes is better to float around the boat wearing a livejacket. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of this good man.