Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project

06/12/2026 - FRANKFORT, MI - Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project Surf Rescue Clinic with Sleeping Bear Surf

LAKE MICHIGAN - 06/12/2026 - CHICAGO, IL -- A body was pulled from Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago on Friday morning, police said.

Chicago police said the CPD Marine Unit recovered a male of an unknown age from the water in the 900-block of East Grand Avenue around 9:30 a.m.

The person was pronounced dead on the scene. How he died was not immediately clear, and his identity was not immediately released.

Area Three detectives are conducting a death investigation pending autopsy results.

Body pulled from Lake Michigan in Streeterville, police say A body was pulled from Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago on Friday morning, police said.

TONIGHT --- COME ON OUT!

FRANKFORT, MI – The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project (GLSRP) is partnering with Sleeping Bear Surf Shop to teach its “Open Water Surf Rescue Clinic”, for surfers and the public Friday, June 12, 2026, 6:30 p.m. at Frankfort Public Beach.

"Surfers are often in the water during dangerous conditions for swimmers," said Dave Benjamin, GLSRP Executive Director. "Surfers dress for the water temperature, know the dangerous currents, and have a huge flotation device that is excellent for making rescues."

"We're going to give them the knowledge to know what drowning looks like and how best to make a rescue in dangerous conditions," Benjamin concluded.

Video of the surf rescue clinic held in June 2021.

The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project will be educating attendees on:
1. The Scope of Drowning: The Big Picture of the Drowning Research and Statistics – Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death.
2. The Signs of Drowning: The Hollywood Version vs. the Actual Version and How to identify a person in trouble.
3. Drowning Survival Strategies: Flip, Float, and Follow.
4. Great Lakes Dangerous Currents: Winds = Waves = Dangerous Currents (rip, longshore, structural, and outlet currents and offshore winds); i.e. how, where, and why dangerous currents occur and how to survive them.
5. Basic Beach Safety: “Know before you go”; Swim near a lifeguard; Know where the emergency call boxes and rescue equipment are located; Wear a life jacket; “Steer clear of the pier”; know the signs of drowning and know Flip, Float, and Follow!
6. Basic Water Rescue: For the General public: Reach. Throw. Don’t go. Water rescue is very dangerous. Oftentimes the ‘would-be’ rescuer also becomes a drowning victim. It’s important to understand how a flotation device such as a throw ring, throw rope, surfboard or other objects that float can rescue a person in distress or in a dangerous current. For surfers, they will be taught how to use their surfboards as rescue devices.
7. Basic Water Resuscitation: –CPR Demonstrations and the GLSRP encourages everyone to enroll in lifesaving, first aid and CPR training from accredited agencies

Frankfort MI, Open Water Surf Rescue Clinic Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Today is a good example of the systemic problems that span across multiple municipalities and multiple agencies.
The National Weather Service issues a Beach Hazard Statement and rates the risk to all Great Lakes beaches (in the U.S.) As I type this; the risk for South Haven and Grand Haven is "LOW" and waves are 1-3 ft. Both Grand Haven State Park and South Haven South Beach are flying RED flags.
In Wisconsin, the warning for Sheboygan, Racine et,al is HIGH with waves 4ft building to 4-6 ft. The water there is currently flat.
MANY municipalities use the BHS in determining what flags to fly.
The simple fact is the WHOLE system is broken! Somehow the Surf Rescue Project is seen as a problem, we are simply pointing out the problems and offering solutions.
It's beyond frustrating!

06/11/2026 - South Bend Tribune - Do's and don'ts to stay safe while swimming in Lake Michigan

While Lake Michigan can be fun and relaxing, it can also be dangerous. Dave Benjamin, the co-founder and co-executive director of the Greater Lakes Surf Rescue Project, said the "basic dynamics" of the lake make it the deadliest of the Great Lakes in terms of drownings.

"There's a high population density along the shoreline," Benjamin said, "and it's a tourist destination. … It's 300 miles long from the north to the south, and from east to west, it's 118 miles wide, and wind over water creates dangerous currents. So it's the winds that are creating the dangerous currents."

The dangerous currents in the Great Lakes are caused by the winds and are often difficult to spot. The rip current channels open and close creating what is called a flash rip.

The Surf Rescue Project categorizes the direction of the wind in three ways: onshore, sideshore and offshore. The wind directions also often combine in the Great Lakes, which can lead to unsafe conditions.

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With these statistics in mind, The Tribune created a list of do's and don'ts of swimming in the lake...

Do's and don'ts to stay safe while swimming in Lake Michigan Lake Michigan annually leads the Great Lakes in drownings. Here are some water-safety tips.

GLSRP hosts water safety booth at
Holland Board of Public Works Safety Fair

Thursday, June 11, 11:00 a.m.
625 Hastings Ave.

HOLLAND, MI – The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project (GLSRP) will be hosting a Lake Michigan Water Safety Booth at the Holland Board of Public Works Safety Fair, Thursday, June 11, 11:00am to 1:30pm, 625 Hastings Ave. Holland, MI 49316 (Holland BPW Service Center)

Fair organizers are anticipating about 200 attendees from the Holland Board of Public Works, City of Holland, and Zeeland Board of Public Works.

The fair is a collection of vendors from a variety of fields including emergency management, wellness, Personal Protective Equipment, home safety, and occupational safety.

The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project will be educating attendees on:

1. The Scope of Drowning: The Big Picture of the Drowning Research and Statistics – Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death.

2. The Signs of Drowning: The Hollywood Version vs. the Actual Version and How to identify a person in trouble.

3. Drowning Survival Strategies: Flip, Float, and Follow.

4. Great Lakes Dangerous Currents: Winds = Waves = Dangerous Currents (rip, longshore, structural, and outlet currents and offshore winds); i.e. how, where, and why dangerous currents occur and how to survive them.

5. Basic Beach Safety: “Know before you go”; Swim near a lifeguard; Know where the emergency call boxes and rescue equipment are located; Wear a life jacket; “Steer clear of the pier”; know the signs of drowning and know Flip, Float, and Follow!

6. Basic Water Rescue: Reach. Throw. Don’t go. Wa6ler rescue is very dangerous. Oftentimes the ‘would-be’ rescuer also becomes a drowning victim. It’s important to understand how a flotation device such as a throw ring, throw rope, surfboard or other objects that float can rescue a person in distress or in a dangerous current.

7. Basic Water Resuscitation: – The GLSRP encourages everyone to enroll in lifesaving, first aid and CPR training from accredited agencies

06/09/2026 - Fox 17 - South Haven lifeguards help rescue swimmer who collapsed on beach

South Haven lifeguards help rescue swimmer who collapsed on beach The City of South Haven's new lifeguard program logged its first rescue today, just weeks after lifeguards returned to the sand.

06/09/2026 - ABC 57 - South Haven lifeguards save life, following reinstatement of beach lifeguard program

South Haven lifeguards save life, following reinstatement of beach lifeguard program A team of lifeguards in South Haven is being recognized for what city officials are calling a "major lifesaving incident."