Deceased Diver's Body Found
After a full day of searching, the body of a deceased diver has been recovered.
52-year-old Derril Yerigan of New Richmond, Wisconsin was on board the dive charter boat Blackdog. He was performing a routine recreational dive on the Shipwreck SS Samual Mather with three other divers.
On Monday at about 2:20 P.M. the United States Coast Guard received a call from Captain Brian Anderson. Captain Anderson reported that Yeigan failed to return to the surface with the other divers.
The Coast Guard deployed resources to the area and conducted a search of the surface water. The Michigan State Police Underwater Recovery Unit assisted in the investigation.
TUESDAY, the Michigan State Police Dive Team found Yerigan’s body on the deck of the shipwreck.
The incident is still under investigation, and foul play is not suspected. The Chippewa County Medical Examiner has ordered an autopsy of Yerigan’s body to determine the cause of death.
The Shipwreck SS Samual Mather lies in 174 feet of water in Lake Superior in The Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve.
Posted by: Jordan Kelly