Man Rescued After Being Swept Off South Haven Pier

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A 57-year-old visitor to South Haven, Michigan was swept off the city's south pier by a giant wave on Friday evening, but was rescued by a companion who threw him a life ring and pulled him to safety. The incident was captured in a photo by a local resident.

Why it matters

South Haven's piers are frequently closed due to dangerous wave and wind conditions, but some visitors still attempt to access them, putting themselves at risk. This incident highlights the importance of heeding pier closure warnings and the value of the city's beach safety program, which has installed life ring stations and AED devices along the piers.

The details

The victim, whose identity has not been released, was on the pier when a large wave swept him into Lake Michigan. A second person with the victim was able to throw him a life ring and pull him to safety before emergency responders arrived. The pier was closed at the time due to the high wind and wave conditions.

• The incident occurred at 5:40 p.m. on Friday, March 14, 2026.
• The piers in South Haven were declared closed earlier that day due to the hazardous weather conditions.

What’s next

The city will continue to enforce pier closures and educate visitors about the importance of heeding safety warnings, in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.