News Release

MICHIGAN CITY — A Bremen man died Monday, Oct. 10, after a weekend incident off Lake Michigan while he was kite surfing.

Indiana conservation officers are investigating the incident on Lake Michigan.

At 5:23 p.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 8, LaPorte County Dispatch Center received a 911 call about a man who nearly drowned while kite surfing near Washington Park Beach.

Initial investigation revealed that Douglas Tolle, 56, of Bremen, was participating in a kite surfing lesson when, for unknown reasons, he began struggling in the water. By the time other kite surfers reached Tolle, he was unconscious.

Tolle was taken to shore where CPR was started. He was transported to Franciscan Health Michigan City in critical condition.

Shortly after 1 p.m. CT Monday, Tolle succumbed to his injuries and died. The preliminary cause of death is cardiac arrest due to drowning.