ESCANABA — One male is dead after two subjects fell off of a personal watercraft near the Gladstone Harbor this past Friday afternoon.

At 3:45 p.m. on Friday, local law enforcement were dispatched to Little Bay de Noc near the Gladstone Harbor for two individuals in distress that had fallen off of a personal watercraft. Initial units on scene from the Michigan State Police and Gladstone Public Safety were able to respond on the water with the assistance of a citizen and their boat.

According to a Monday press release, they were able to locate and rescue a female subject from the water and bring her back to shore. Deputies arrived soon after in their patrol boat and were able to locate an unresponsive male subject. The male subject was brought onshore to an awaiting ambulance and then transferred to St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba, where he was later pronounced deceased.

Neither subject on the personal watercraft was wearing a life jacket. Identities of the subjects have not been released.

Deputies were assisted by the Michigan State Police, Gladstone Public Safety Department, Delta County Central Dispatch, Delta County Sheriff Dive Rescue Team, Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers and Rampart EMS.

Abby LaForest can be reached at 906-228-2500, 548. Her email address is alaforest@miningjournal.net.