‘These kids gave a valiant effort to the extent that they almost drown,? said Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh of Jonathan Harper’s four friends.
Harper, 19, became the first casualty of the 2009 boating season when he fell into Lake Orion, May 2.
Kelly Leachman, Ashley Freedman, Greg Latozas and Stephanie Malski were on the lake with Harper and watched as he plunged head-first into the 50-degree water from a pontoon boat.
A ladder was at his feet as Harper reached over the front of the watercraft for a bottle floating in the water, and when he fell, the ladder went with him. Lake Orion police reports said it may have become entangled in his feet.
Both Leachman and Malski plunged into the lake in an attempt to help, but without success.
‘I remembered he couldn’t swim, so I took off my jacket and jumped in after him,? Leachman said. ‘My body couldn’t make it ? I was freezing up. I had to go back to the boat.?
The two girls made it back on the pontoon while Freedman threw personal floatation devices to help.
By the time Latozas, the boat’s driver, maneuvered the craft back to their friend, Harper was floating face-down in the chilly waters.
Latozas jumped into the water and swam to him when James and Julie Siwek arrived in their boat to assist the struggling teens. The couple pulled them on board and delivered the young men to emergency crews on shore.
‘We’re extremely proud of these kids,? said Narsh. ‘We plan on recognizing them for their heroic action.?
Leachman and Freedman said they’ll remember their friend for his kindness.
‘Jon was just an all-around good person,? said Leachman. ‘I just keep imagining him walking through the door.?
‘He was always there whenever you needed to talk,? said Freedman.
April, Freedman’s mother, said the friends had their own ‘family unit? and enjoyed hanging out in Malski’s family boathouse.
‘Jon was so great, so sweet,? she said.
Leachman and the Freedmans are frustrated at the lack of law enforcement on Lake Orion now that the boating season has picked up.
‘If a sheriff was in the water, they wouldn’t have been out there alone,? said Freedman’s mom. ‘They could have all drowned if they hadn’t helped each other.?
Both Freedman and Leachman said the three girls were left on the stalled pontoon boat after Harper and Latozas were taken to shore. They eventually paddled to shore.
The lake is under Oakland County Sheriff Department’s jurisdiction and, according to Marine Division Commander Matt Snyder, the OCSD doesn’t staff deputies on the water until after Memorial Day.
‘If it’s cold and slow, we’re not going to put anyone out there,? he said. ‘It’s dependent on the weather.?
During prime hours and weekends, OSCD keeps one marine deputy on duty, according to Snyder.