Tak Yun Wong**, 71, lost his life Tuesday night after being swept into the turbulent waters of **Lake Erie** near the **Edgewater Yacht Club** in Cleveland. The tragic accident occurred around **8:15 p.m.**, when six-foot waves crashed against the pier where Wong had been fishing alone. Witnesses said the force of the water suddenly knocked him off balance, plunging him into the dark, frigid lake.Bystanders immediately shouted for help, tossing a floating ring and other rescue gear toward him, but the **strong wind and relentless current
pulled him out too quickly. “We could see him for a few moments, and then he was gone,” one witness said. Emergency calls flooded 911 within minutes, bringing **Cleveland Fire**, **Metroparks Police**, and the **Coast Guard** to the scene. Despite their rapid response, officials said the **rough water and poor visibility** made it too dangerous for divers to enter the lake that night.
Rescue boats and drones searched for hours under floodlights, but with waves still crashing against the pier, efforts had to be suspended until daybreak. At first light Wednesday, a coordinated recovery mission resumed, and **search teams located Wong’s body** several hundred yards from where he had fallen.Authorities believe the high winds, combined with cold October water temperatures, contributed to the deadly outcome.
Friends and fellow anglers remembered Tak Yun Wong as a kind and patient man who often spent evenings by the water, enjoying the peace of fishing. “He loved the lake—it’s heartbreaking that it took him,” said one friend.Officials are urging caution for those who fish or walk near the lake’s edge as fall storms create unpredictable, dangerous conditions. Wong’s death serves as a sobering reminder of Lake Erie’s power and the speed with which calm moments can turn tragic.
