Coast Guard ends search for two teenage boys in Lake Michigan

The U.S. Coast Guard ended its search Thursday morning for two teenage boys who disappeared in Lake Michigan. 

The Coast Guard says at approximately 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, a group of four boys were swimming near the north breakwall at Holland State Park when a strong rip current swept two of the boys underwater. 

Witnesses say they did not see the boys resurface. 

Coast Guard boat crews and helicopter air crews from Holland, Grand Haven, St. Joseph, Muskegon, Traverse City, and Detroit searched 18 hours for the swimmers, covering an area of 212 square miles. 

The crews did not report any signs of the missing swimmers. 

“This is never a choice that is easy to make. Coast Guard Search and Rescue helicopter and boats crews, as well as numerous members of the local first responder community and incident command team searched throughout the night after we received the initial report. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the two boys,” said Commander Leanne Lusk, Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan.

According to the Coast Guard, swimming conditions were dangerous and the boys were not wearing life jackets.