Frank Zimmerman had become pinned by rushing water as he cleared debris near a dam in the 34-degree water of Newburgh Lake. He apparently became wedged near a gate, Wayne County Sheriff Robert Ficano said.
Rescue workers freed him from the gate but searchers were unable to locate his body late yesterday, and shifted their focus downstream before calling off the search at dusk, Ficano said. The search is expected to resume today.
Authorities said Zimmerman, who worked for Divtec Corp. of Romulus, was feared dead. His age and hometown were not immediately released.
About three hours into the ordeal, a diver went in and came back out after what appeared to be releasing something blocking the slew and sending water and debris under Newburgh Road and into the Rouge River below the five-lane road.
But Ficano said the diver couldn't find Zimmerman.
Other divers were unable to go back in to try a rescue because of the strong current and cold water, Ficano and other officials said. Rescuers began trying to drain some of the water to relieve pressure around the dam and were pumping air and warm water to the man's diving suit from above ground.
Officials lost radio contact with Zimmerman shortly after the accident, which happened about 10:30 a.m. They were uncertain if air and warm water were reaching him.
Deputies, firefighters, Detroit police, private and sheriff's divers packed onto the bridge and around the dam staring anxiously into the water. Some paced around the small area of the dam where the diver was trapped in water that was about 20 feet deep.
Engineers used large hoses to try to pump water out and lower the lake level to try to reduce the strong current and suction against the gate enough to get rescue divers down there.
Firefighters lowered ladders into the water, apparently to give rescue workers who might be going in something to hang onto.
Ficano said Zimmerman's mother and some friends were taken to a building near the scene, where they spent the afternoon waiting and getting regular updates.
Local motor ambulances and an air ambulance from the University Medical Center were on the scene until late afternoon, when workers called off their search around the dam and shifted downstream.