Teen girl presumed dead after wave knocked her into Lake Michigan while celebrating the new year
A TEEN girl is feared dead after a wave knocked her into Lake Michigan while celebrating the New Year. Eliza Trainer, 16, and a friend were swept into the water from Holland State Park pier at about 11.30pm on Wednesday. Her 18-year-old friend was able to get climb out of the water to get help […]
A TEEN girl is feared dead after a wave knocked her into Lake Michigan while celebrating the New Year.
Eliza Trainer, 16, and a friend were swept into the water from Holland State Park pier at about 11.30pm on Wednesday.
Her 18-year-old friend was able to get climb out of the water to get help but there has been no sign of Eliza, officials from Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office have said.
The waves were thought to be about 12-feet high as the pair “clung to each other” for several minutes before the Flushing High School junior disappeared in the dark.
Eliza’s friend was taken to hospital and was later released.
Sgt. Jay Douglas said officers believe Eliza is dead and told reporters: “This is a recovery at this point.”
Bryan Swintek, a Coast Guard search and rescue mission coordinator, told ABC News: “This is a great example of the dangers of winter weather — cold water is dangerous.
“Somebody’s ability to survive in that water is about one hour without a life jacket on.”
‘QUICKLY SWEPT AWAY’
He added that the water was about 39F the night Eliza was pulled into the water.
A GoFundMe that was started by a family friend of Eliza to help raise money for a memorial described what happened in detail.
They wrote: “It was on this walk that Eliza and her friend were both swept from a pier by the large waves. They clung to each other for about 5 minutes, trying to make their way to the rocks.
“Her friend was able to get on a rock while still holding her hand, but as he was trying to pull her up another wave came and took her from his grip. He tried to find her but she was quickly swept away.”
Crews were using sonar on boats and drones to try and find the teen, but the turbulent waves were preventing divers from getting in the water.
Investigators said the friends had gone to the pier that day because they had never seen it before.
Eliza had planned to become a diesel mechanic after graduating and loved to play soccer and spent time outdoors.
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She was also described as someone who “would do anything to help those in need.”
Timothy Stein, the superintendent of Flushing Community Schools, said grief counsellors will be in the school’s north cafeteria on Monday to assist students and staff after sharing the tragic news.
In 2019 there were a total of 93 drowning on the Great Lakes, and 47 of those happened in Lake Michigan, according to figures from nonprofit Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project.
