The Barry County Sheriff's office was dispatched to the area of Camp Thornapple on Thornapple Lake in Castleton township at 8:23 Tuesday morning  when a boat was reported drifting approximately 200 yards off the shore with what appeared to be a life jacket floating near the boat.

 

Upon arrival, law enforcement launched their boat and were able to locate a male subject, who was identified by the Sheriff's office as 69 year old Edward Louis Phillips of Lansing.  Philips was fournd floating at the surface next to the drifting boat and was not wearing a life jacket. Deputies believe that Phillips had fallen overboard while fishing on the lake and was unable to get back into the boat. 

 

The sheriff's office stated in a facebook post that the man was deceased when officers arrived. Foul play is not suspected. 

 

Barry Central Dispatch and Nashville Fire/EMS assisted Sheriff's deputies and investigators.