Victim in Lake St. Clair boating accident 'lived a humble life'

One man is dead and another rescued after their boat capsized on Lake St. Clair in Harrison Township Wednesday.

We are learning more about the 60-year-old Brad Thacker of Warren who died and the desperate effort to save him.

"I love you, I miss you," said Dewan Thacker whose father died in the accident. "My dad was the nicest man, the smartest man I've ever met. He would do anything for anyone."

The Macomb County Sheriff's Office says just before 8 p.m. that night, a 62-year-old Troy man on his boat, noticed a 15-foot fishing boat had capsized.

On the 911 call:

Caller: "I just picked a guy up out of the drink. He was on top of his boat. His boat sunk."

That man was hanging on to the side of the boat was Thacker's longtime friend, co-worker and fishing buddy, 39-year-old Macomb Township man clinging to the side of it.

That boater immediately called 911. He brought the man, suffering from severe hypothermia, to safety.

Police say that man  before being sent to the hospital  was able to tell deputies his friend was still out there.

Thacker's body was discovered by the Macomb County dive team a few hours later. 

"They were doing what they loved to do,"  Dewan Thacker said. "So I would say my dad passed away doing what he loved to do."

The 39-year-old remains in critical condition. Police are waiting until he is strong enough to explain how the boat capsized and wants to remind boaters at the start of spring to be careful on the water.

"If you are going out on the water no matter if you have a small boat or a bigger boat, life jackets do save lives," said Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham.

"He worked hard all day and at night he went fishing," said Dewan Thacker. "He was a simple man, he wasn't a fancy person. He lived a humble life."

Click here if you'd like to make a donation to the family to help give Brad a proper burial.