In Reply to: Diver sucked into pipe, found in pond posted by on July 05, 2005 at 20:21:26:

        

A West Michigan native, scuba diving in Lake Michigan over the weekend, had a close call after she was sucked into a Consumers Energy water intake pipe.
40 year old Joan Eddy, a former Lakeshore resident, was diving with her husband on Saturday, when she was sucked into the pipe. The pipes use water from the lake to cool turbines at the Port Sheldon generating plant. They have screens over the openings to prevent fish and debris from being sucked into them. However, one of the pipes was missing that protective screen and that's how Eddy ended up in the pipe.
She was carried a half mile, underwater, travelling at six feet per second. She ended up in a lagoon at the end of the pipe. Eddy was able to get herself out of the water, suffering just a bloody nose.
Firefighters on the scene say it's amazing she survived. They credit her diving experience with helping to save her life.
Consumers Energy officials say they were in the process of repairing the pipe when the accident occurred. They say the area where the pipes are located is industrial and they urge divers and others to stay away from that area for recreational activities.

• WZZM13 News