Mother Pushing for Changes after Son Drowns in Lake Michigan

by Troy Kehoe (tkehoe@wsbt.com)

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Mother Pushing for Changes after Son Drowns in Lake Michigan

Kelli Lambert's yard features a memorial to her 20-year-old son David, who drowned in Lake Michigan this summer after jumping off a pier at St. Joseph's Silver Beach. (WSBT photo)

By Jim Pinkerton

Story Created: Oct 29, 2007 at 9:52 PM EST

Story Updated: Nov 7, 2007 at 10:56 PM EST

(WSBT) It's been four months since dive crews pulled 20-year-old David Lambert's body from Lake Michigan. He died after jumping off a pier at St. Joseph's Silver Beach. Since then, his family has been frustrated that nothing's been done to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again.

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"It's hard. He was my only child. Not a day goes by that I don't think of him," said Kelli Lambert, David's mother.

The signs of grief are evident with a simple glance. Pictures tell the story of a loving son and friend. The memories are heartwarming, but heartbreaking.

"It makes me cry. There's so much that I think about every day," said Kelli.

In June, David and his friends decided to dive into Lake Michigan.

"He jumped out a little further [than the others], about 15 foot, and I think that's where he had the problems," Kelli said.

David was quickly caught by the lake's strong undertow, overcome by a wall of water. Coast Guard crews were forced to call off their search because of high waves.

It was the eighth rescue call at the pier in two weeks and the fourth death there since 1999. But in the wake of this tragedy there was at least one change: emergency call boxes and life rings were added.

But Kelli felt it wasn't enough. So she asked lawmakers to do more. Last week, Michigan senators passed a bill that would make pier jumping illegal. Violators face a $500 fine.

"I think that would make the kids think twice. To me, $500 is nothing compared to what you pay for a funeral," Kelli said.

And while she knows it won't bring her son back, she hopes it might just help link her family's chain back together.

"I just thank God every day I had 20 years with him," she said.

She also hopes it might keep someone else's family chain from ever breaking.

Not everyone agrees the bill is a good idea. Michigan's Department of Natural Resources says it would be too hard to enforce. The bill is now in the hands of the House Tourism committee. The state Senate passed it by a 35-2 vote last week.

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