July 9, 2008 - 12:00 a.m. EST

CASEVILLE ‹ A 39-year-old Wixom man drowed Saturday Saturday morning at the Caseville County Park Beach.

Thomas Edward Weaver was found just before noon Saturday.

At approximately 11:27 a.m., Huron Central Dispatch received several 911 calls from people on the beach at Caseville reporting that a man had gone under the water.

Huron County Sheriff Kent Tibbits stated that emergency crews arrived on the scene to find volunteers in the water searching for the victim along the north edge of the swim area at the Caseville County Park.

Police at the scene coordinated efforts for the sheriff’s marine patrol and scuba divers. Emergency personnel joined in the search and a human chain was formed to sweep through the area.

Weaver’s body was found shortly afterward and CPR was immediately begun. Scheurer Ambulance transported Weaver to Scheurer Hospital in Pigeon where resuscitation efforts continued. Weaver was unable to be revived and was pronounced dead shortly afterward.

Witnesses believe that Weaver may have been under water for a minimum of 30 minutes.

According to witnesses, Weaver was wading in about 4 feet of water using a metal detector to search for valuables.

Witnesses saw Weaver kneeling in the water and then calling for help several times.

Weaver was approximately 150 - 175 yards off shore when he went under the water.