Body of person who jumped off Mackinac Bridge recovered by search and rescue crews

ST. IGNACE, MI — The body of the person who jumped off the Mackinac Bridge earlier this week has been recovered. 

Search and rescue efforts began after police were alerted to an abandoned vehicle on the bridge at 12:35 a.m. on Thursday, July 9. A review of security video showed a person exiting the vehicle and jumping off the bridge, police said previously.

After searching for the individual throughout Thursday and Friday, the person’s body was located at approximately 6 p.m. Friday in the Straits of Mackinac, Michigan State Police Lt. Benjamin Eckola said in an email. 

The person who jumped has been identified and their family has been notified. For privacy reasons, authorities will not be releasing the individual’s name, Eckola said. 

The bridge roadway sits 199 feet above the Straits of Mackinac at midspan.

Michigan State Police records show authorities have responded to the Mackinac Bridge at least 15 times on reports of possible suicide attempts in the last decade, according to incident reports.

Six of those incidents have now resulted in deaths, while on five other occasions, authorities were able to help the person off the bridge and get them medical assistance. In the remainder of the cases, no person or evidence of a suicide attempt was found.

If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance, the following resources are available:

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a trained listener, call 988. Visit 988lifeline.org for crisis chat services or for more information.