Crime & Safety

Macomb Man Drowns In Lake St. Clair After Jumping From Boat: Report

A Macomb Township man drowned in Lake St. Clair on Sunday after jumping from a boat to go for a swim, multiple reports said.

Macomb County divers found the body of 37-year-old Essa Koja Tuesday afternoon in about 10-feet of water​​ not far from where he jumped from the boat, officials said.
Macomb County divers found the body of 37-year-old Essa Koja Tuesday afternoon in about 10-feet of water​​ not far from where he jumped from the boat, officials said. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

MACOMB COUNTY, MI — A Macomb Township man drowned in Lake St. Clair on Sunday after jumping from a boat to go for a swim, multiple reports said.

Macomb County divers found the body of 37-year-old Essa Koja Tuesday afternoon in about 10-feet of water not far from where he jumped from the boat, officials said.

Koja was on a boat with 16 other adults when he decided to go for a swim, without a life jacket, officials said. Shortly after jumping in the water, he began yelling for help as the boat was drifting away from him, officials said.

Find out what's happening in St. Clair Shoresfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Multiple people jumped in after Koja, but were unable to keep to above water, officials said. The boat did have an adequate number of life-jackets onboard, police said.

Officials believe alcohol and weather played a factor in the drowning.

Find out what's happening in St. Clair Shoresfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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