Search for missing kayaker suspended at lake in Ionia County

BERLIN TWP. — Police and fire personnel have suspended a search for a kayaker who fell into Sessions Lake on Sunday evening and did not resurface.

In a Thursday evening news release, the Ionia County Sheriff's Office said the unsuccessful, 4½-day search was being paused amid what it called difficult conditions.

"We will resume operations when we ... can expand our search and obtain more resources when they are available," sheriff's officials said in the release.

The 140-acre lake in the Ionia State Recreation Area was reopened to fishing and other recreation activities on Thursday evening and will remain open through the weekend, officials said.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and DNR Sessions Lake Park staff had closed the lake so divers could do their work.

The missing man is from Grand Rapids and was kayaking with his girlfirend on the man-made lake between Ionia and Saranac when they became uncomfortable in their life jackets and decided to take them off, sheriff's officials said in a news release on Monday.

The man flipped his kayak and did not resurface, they said. He was last seen a few minutes before 7 p.m. Sunday. His life jacket was recovered.

Officials were referring to the incident as an accidental drowning and described the search as a recovery operation.

"We are thankful for our partners in this operation in the Berlin Orange Fire Department, the Saranac Fire Department, the Lyons Muir Fire Department, the Department of Natural Resources Sessions Lake Park, the DNR Law Enforcement Division, the Michigan State Police and the family, who have been understanding and supportive throughout this operation," sheriff's officials said in Thursday's news release.

Contact Ken Palmer atkpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on X @KBPalm_lsj.