Ypsilanti drowning victim was trying to retrieve child's shoe
A man who drowned Tuesday in the Huron River as he swam out to retrieve a child's shoe has been identified as 29-year-old Tirail Antquan Martin, Ypsilanti police said.
Deputies on the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department dive team responded to Riverside Park on Tuesday.
Jeff Smith | For AnnArbor.com
Martin hurried down the stairs and swam to the middle of the river, Fulton said, searching for the shoe, but couldn't find it.
After a couple of minutes, Martin attempted to swim back to the riverbank but struggled and went under, Fulton said. Caught in a strong current, Martin was swept down the river about 30 to 40 feet, Fulton said, as he bobbed up and down a couple of times.
He then went under and did not resurface. A 21-year-old Inkster man swam out to search for Martin, Fulton said, but couldn't find him.
Authorities responded at about 5:15 p.m., including the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office Dive Team. After a 30-minute search, Fulton said, a diver found Martin on the bottom in 12 feet of water.
When Martin was found, he was 30 feet from the river bank and roughly 60 to 70 feet from where he initially went under, Fulton said. Martin was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy is scheduled for this afternoon.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Wolf's Bane
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 11:49 a.m.
Unreal. I bet the shoes cost less then 15 dollars?
free
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 8:23 p.m.
People buy their kids shoes these days that cost $150 a pair or more.
Monica R-W
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 11:01 p.m.
Sad story. Praying for the victim family.
Herbert
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 9:31 p.m.
My heart goes out to the family who lost their love one,I was there when this young man jump into the river,i saw him trying to swim back,i saw him when he went under the water.. I saw the young man go into the water trying to save him but it was to late..I will never forget seeing this young man go under and not coming back up..And the pain the sister displayed just broke my heart, when i went to bed that night that's all i seen was this young man drowning..My prayers goes out to all those who's life was changed by this and i also pray that God will bless each and everyone affected by this...
Tru2Blu76
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 8:55 p.m.
It is a shocking tragedy for this young man and his family and friends. I offer my sincere sympathy. I hope this serves as a cautionary example for others. It's been 36 years since a similar good intention nearly killed me in a trout stream (the Pine River) near Cadillac. I entered the water where it was thigh deep, the current was about 8-10 mph. Once I'd retrieved a snagged fishing lure, I mistakenly thought I'd get back to where I started by choosing to walk just 15 feet down stream before attempting a re-crossing. Bad idea: there was a 10-foot drop off I didn't see and I was swept quickly down the middle of the stream. Fighting to gain shallower water strained my (then 30 year-old) heart nearly beyond its limit. If it had taken just ten seconds longer to get my feet on the bottom, I would have suffered heart failure and died. That was despite my being physically sound, a strong swimmer and a SCUBA diver familiar with the danger of being in cold, fast-moving water. I was very sick and unable to move for about an hour after my exertion. Unless lost items can be safely retrieved from shore or from a watercraft (or by a SCUBA diver), they are not worth going after, in my opinion.
Cash
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 10:31 a.m.
Thank you for telling that story...I'm betting you have relived that experience many times! Amazing. But an excellent reminder to all.
bob
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 7:54 p.m.
Wow...I didn't know the river got that deep by Riverside Park. Been there many times and I always thought it was shallow through there. It is sad for the family that an act that seemed so innocent could end up so tragic.
Christy King
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 7:07 p.m.
My heart and prayers are with this man's family. It is terribly sad that his kind gesture was met with his demise. :(
Ricebrnr
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 4:01 p.m.
We know how to conserve energy and get back to shore in a riptide on the beach, anyone know what the smart thing to do in a river is? Swim diagonally with the current towards shore?
julieswhimsies
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 7:17 p.m.
Sorry. My finished post: I feel badly for the family and friends of this very kind man. I do not mean to blame the victim here. However, a warning about the dangers of entering a river as an untrained swimmer seems appropriate here. I send my blessings to his family.
julieswhimsies
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 7:14 p.m.
As a former aquatics professional, I can tell you that you swim with the current parallel to the shore, until the current "softens". Then you swim at at a slight diagonal toward the shore. If you attempt to rescue a person (or object) in a river, and you are not a trained lifeguard, you are putting your life at risk. I feel so badly for the family of this and
Woman in Ypsilanti
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 4:39 p.m.
Yes, that is correct. Swim with the current diagonally towards the shore.
leezee
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 2:38 p.m.
Heart breaking story. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
gostate
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 9:42 p.m.
Agreed, this is just tragic.