Lake Erie is one of the five Great Lakes that makes up the largest freshwater system in the world. Located in the Northeastern part of the United States, Lake Erie is bordered by New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Ontario. Lake Erie is among the most popular of the five Great Lakes due to its warmer temperature, beautiful beaches, and famous fishing reputation. Despite its beauty and tranquility, fatal accidents frequently occur here due to a few factors. In this study, we will explain the types of common fatal accidents, why they happen, and how you can keep yourself safe when visiting this one-of-a-kind lake.
Table Of Contents
- How Many People Have Died at Lake Erie?
- How Do People Die At Lake Erie?
- Top Causes of Death at Lake Erie
- Swimming Deaths
- Boating Deaths
- Water Sport Deaths
- Why Is Lake Erie So Dangerous?
- How To Stay Safe At Lake Erie
How Many People Have Died at Lake Erie?
While Lake Erie is not considered an ocean, it is so large that it shares many characteristics with an ocean that make it more dangerous than you may think. Over the past 11 years, 229 people have died in Lake Erie. That means that Lake Erie claims the lives of 21 people on average every year.
| Year | Total Deaths |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 36 |
| 2019 | 28 |
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2021 | 22 |
| 2022 | 26 |
| 2023 | 18 |
| 2024 | 16 |
Total Deaths By Sex
The distribution of deaths by sex reveals that the rate of fatalities is significantly higher for males than females, with men accounting for 86% of all recorded deaths between 2014 and 2024:
Total Deaths By Age
All age groups are at risk of dying at Lake Erie, however, out of all reported data, age groups between 11-20 and 41-50 saw the highest rates of fatalities. The ages between 11 and 20 had 35 fatalities. Close behind with 34 fatalities is the ages 41-50. These two age groups account for over 35% of Lake Erie deaths. The age groups 0 to 10 and 80+ have the least amount of fatalities, making up only 4% of deaths.
*This data accounts for 196 out of 228 fatalities in Lake Erie between 2014 and 2024. There are 32 fatalities where age was not reported.
Total Deaths By Month
Between 2014 and 2024, the month with the highest number of deaths was July. In total, 45 deaths have occurred in July. In a close second is August with 43 deaths. During July and August, water temperatures peak, making it a popular time for swimming, boating, and fishing. With an increased number of visitors, it is expected to see an increase in drowning incidents.
How Do People Die at Lake Erie?
Lake Erie offers beautiful sights, relief on hot Summer days, world-renowned fishing, and opportunities for adventure, but also poses life-threatening risks that many people fail to prepare for.
- Swimming accounted for about 30% of known causes of death, making it the most dangerous activity at Lake Erie
- About 20% of fatalities involved boating which includes boat crashes, capsizes, and people falling overboard
- Water sports which include kayaking, canoeing, jet skiing, rafting, and kite surfing accounted for 6.1% of deaths at Lake Erie
| Cause of Death | Total Deaths |
|---|---|
| Boating | 44 |
| Motor Vehicle Accident | 10 |
| Falling | 13 |
| Rescue Attempt | 8 |
| Swimming | 67 |
| Wading | 4 |
| Water Sports | 15 |
| Suicide | 2 |
| Unknown | 66 |
| Total | 229 |
Top Causes of Death at Lake Erie
Lake Erie’s top three causes of death are swimming, boating, and water sports. These account for 77% of all known causes of fatalities in the lake. Below are a few notable deaths related to swimming, boating, and water sports.
Swimming – 67 Deaths
Swimming incidents that result in drowning are the greatest cause of death in Lake Erie. The strong currents, cold temperatures, and waves contribute to the high risk of drowning.
Notable Deaths
Date: 7/14/2024
Cause of Death: Hazardous Conditions – Drowning
A 14-year-old boy entered the water at Port Stanley in Ontario while yellow flags were posted. The boy never resurfaced. A volunteer human chain attempted to save him but the boy could not be found by the OPP marine unit, helicopters, or dive team until 2 days later.
Date: 7/24/2023
Cause of Death: Swimming in Undesignated Area – Drowning
A 16-year-old boy went swimming at Woodlawn Beach State Park and swam past the designated swimming area with a friend. He was unable to resurface because of an undercurrent and bystanders could not rescue him in time.
Date: 6/11/2022
Cause of Death: Scuba Diving – Drowning
A 31-year-old man died while scuba diving in a shipwreck. He was diving with a group that left Barcelona Harbor in New York and began to show distress signals when they were at 190 feet deep. He quickly became unconscious and was 15 miles from shore.
Boating – 44 Deaths
Boating accidents happen frequently at Lake Erie. Unpredictable conditions can turn a routine fishing trip into a catastrophe within minutes, rough waters can capsize boats, and inexperienced boaters can put you at risk by colliding with your watercraft.
Notable Deaths
Date: 7/06/2024
Cause of Death: Boating – Capsize
Four people took out a 23-foot boat on Lake Erie in Perry, Ohio. It is unknown how the boat capsized, but one person was able to call 911 from the water. When rescuers came, 3 were rescued but only 2 survived. The other last man’s body was found a week later.
Date: 6/24/2024
Cause of Death: Fishing – Fell from Boat
A 64-year-old man went fishing with another boater near Conneaut, Ohio. He fell out of the boat and was not wearing a life jacket. The other boater tried to hold onto him but was unable to do so.
Date: 11/16/2021
Cause of Death: Boating – Collision
Two speedboats collided at around 9:00 pm. Both boats ejected 2 passengers. Three passengers were rescued but one died and two were treated for hypothermia and survived. The fourth passenger’s body was found 2 weeks later.
Water Sports – 15 Deaths
Water sports such as kayaking, canoeing, and jet skiing are popular amongst Lake Erie visitors but are risky if you are not prepared for all circumstances. Large waves can capsize kayaks, negligent jet skiers can collide, and cold temperatures can cause hypothermia if visitors are not properly clothed.
Notable Deaths
Date: 11/05/2022
Cause of Death: Kayaking – Hypothermia
A 30-year-old man was kayaking with his wife and a friend. His kayak began to take on water and capsized. His wife and friend had made it back to shore when the man called them but lost contact when his phone fell into the water. The conditions were rough with high winds and white caps. Despite him wearing a life jacket, his body was found over two months later in Dunkirk, NY and his kayak was found in Canada.
Date: 6/30/2018
Cause of Death: Jet Ski – Collision
A 40-year-old man was riding a water scooter when he started experiencing mechanical problems. His friend was also operating a water scooter at a high rate of speed and collided with the man. He could not be resuscitated.
Date: 12/06/2015
Cause of Death: Fishing/Kayaking – Hypothermia
A 42-year-old man from North Tonawanda, NY went out on a kayak to go fishing. The water was too choppy for kayaking and days later rescuers found his fishing gear and body. He was not wearing appropriate clothing for 50-60 degree water temperatures and likely went into “Cold Water Shock”.
Why Is Lake Erie So Dangerous?
There are several reasons Lake Erie is dangerous, including:
Unpredictable Weather: Weather can rapidly change at Lake Erie, especially during the Fall and Winter. This makes swimmers, boaters, fishermen, and kayakers vulnerable to being caught in a storm, severe winds, currents, cold weather, and large waves (including seiches).
Dangerous Currents: Lake Erie frequently has strong currents that can suck swimmers out away from shore, under the water, or away from their boat. It is important to know how to recognize rip currents, longshore currents, and structural currents to avoid their potential dangers.
Seiches: Lake Erie has a rare phenomenon called a seiche. A seiche is a standing wave that can last for hours or days after the wind stops. This phenomenon only happens in Lake Erie out of all the Great Lakes because of its positioning. The strong southwest to northeast winds paired with atmospheric pressure create the seiches. These waves can become very large
Shallow Depth: The shallow depths of Lake Erie can make it hard for ships and boats to navigate. While the lake is shallow, it also has underwater hazards such as shipwrecks, large rocks, sand bars, and reefs. These hazards can cause boats to take on water and capsize.
Algal Blooms: Since this is the shallowest of the Great Lakes, it is also the warmest, which makes it favorable for toxic algae. Between July and October, the western part of Lake Erie is known to have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms. This type of algae is harmful to humans and animals that swim in or ingest it.
Cold Water Temperatures: Lake Erie is still fairly cold even during Summer. Swimmers and boaters who are unprepared may be at risk for hypothermia.
How Can I Stay Safe at Lake Erie?
Being armed with knowledge of the dangers and risks at Lake Erie can help you prepare and prevent these types of accidents from happening. If you are a swimmer, boater, fisherman, or visitor of Lake Erie, we highly recommend you check local marine forecasts, tide predictions, and wave forecasts before getting in the water. From analyzing the past 11 years of fatality data, it is apparent that having more knowledge of these risks could have prevented many of these accidents from turning deadly.
Lake Erie’s temperatures peak between July and September at 70 to 74 degrees on average. The other 9 months of the year, the average temperatures range from 34 to 62 degrees. If you are not prepared with the proper gear to keep you warm, you face the risk of getting hypothermia. Wetsuits, neoprene gloves, booties, and a hood are recommended if you plan to kayak or boat in the colder months. It is also important to only use a well-maintained kayak with a spray skirt, bilge pump, and paddle float to prevent capsizing.
One of the biggest risks for swimmers is Lake Erie’s strong currents. It is important to be familiar with the different types of currents and what to do if you find yourself caught in one. The main types of currents found at Lake Erie are rip, longshore, and structural currents. Rip currents pull swimmers from the shore and into deeper waters, causing panic and exhaustion. To escape rip currents, swim parallel to shore until you are out and conserve energy by floating. Longshore currents travel parallel to the shore. To escape this current swim towards the shore. Structural currents form around sand bars, piers, and breakwalls. Climb out of the water as soon as possible if caught in this current. Always swim in designated swimming zones where lifeguards are present.
While these tips could save your life or prevent injuries, not everything is always under your control. If you have been injured or have lost a loved one at Lake Erie due to the fault of someone else, our Buffalo personal injury lawyer can help. Contact our office immediately to start your case.
Source: https://glsrp.org/statistics/