Father presumed drowned after attempting to rescue two boys

ERIE TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Juan A. Layva, a 34-year-old father, is missing and presumed drowned after attempting to rescue two boys, aged 12 and 13, who were swimming in Lake Erie, several hundred yards east of the Whiting Consumers Energy Power Plant in Erie Township.

Layva entered the water shortly after 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning, after calling 911, believing the boys were being swept away in the current.

The LaSalle Fire Department was able to successfully rescue the boys, but Layva remains missing. The Coast Guard said he is the father of one of the boys.

The Monroe County Sheriff's aviation unit and dive team are continuing to search the area for Layva. The Lasalle Township Fire Department, Erie Township Fire Department, Morin Point Fire Department, Luna Pier Fire Department, Washington Township Fire Department (Ohio) and the US Coast Guard are also assisting with the search.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Monroe County Sheriff at 734-243-7070.