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Dive team recovers body of man from Hamlin Lake

Search efforts have resumed Sunday morning and will continue throughout the day.
File photo

UPDATE, Monday, Sept. 23: 

Around 7:10 p.m. on Monday, the Mason County Sheriff's Office Dive Team recovered the body of Robert James Conklin, 54, of West Olive. 

Conklin fell off a boat and into Hamlin Lake on Saturday. He was found in area of the lake called the narrows about 150 yards off the south shore in seven feet of water. 

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Robert's family and loved ones during this tragic time," said Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. "This has been a tragic summer on our area lakes and we are happy to bring closure to Robert's family and friends." 

An autopsy will be conducted this week. 

ORIGINAL STORY, Saturday, Sept. 21: Divers with the Mason County Dive Team and the Oceana County Sheriff's Office Dive Team are looking for a 54-year-old man who fell off a boat on Hamlin Lake Saturday afternoon. 

Police said they responded to a report of a capsized boat around 1:05 p.m. in an area of the lake known as "the narrows." Two people were reported to be in the water. 

When emergency crews got to the scene, they discovered the boat had not capsized. Rather, two people on an 18-foot bass-style fishing boat had fallen overboard. The Mason County Sheriff's office said it is unclear how they fell into the water. 

A woman was rescued from the water by other people boating on the lake. But a 54-year-old man who also fell into the lake did not resurface.

Fire departments from multiple agencies including Hamlin, Scottville, Grant, Custer and Ludington all responded to the scene. Michigan State Police and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter also assisted in the search. 

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