Most drowned bodies initially float face downwards, owing to the weight of the arms. Excess fat in breasts and stomach, however - since fat floats - may produce a face-up effect.

Does a body float when dead?

A. Dead bodies in the water usually tend to sink at first, but later they tend to float, as the post-mortem changes brought on by putrefaction produce enough gases to make them buoyant.

Do dead bodies sink in Lake Superior?

Normally, bacteria decaying a sunken body will bloat it with gas, causing it to float to the surface after a few days. But Lake Superior's water is cold enough year-round to inhibit bacterial growth, and bodies tend to sink and never resurface.