Coast Guard helicopter crew rescues man stranded on break-wall

united states coast guard 

News Release  

August 12, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 9th District Great Lakes
Contact: 9th District Public Affairs
Office: (216) 902-6020
After Hours: (216) 310-2608

Coast Guard helicopter crew rescues man stranded on break-wall

Coast Guard helicopter rescues man 

video of Coast Guard rescuing man on pier

video of Coast Guard helicopter hoisting fisherman

 Editors' Note: Click on images to download high resolution version of the video and stills. 

CLEVELAND — The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a man via helicopter who was stranded on the Frankfort North Pier Head entrance to Betsie Lake, Frankfort, Michigan, late Friday.

The man had been fishing when the weather picked up and became stuck due to crashing waves over the break-wall. 

The Coast Guard received notification from Benzie County 911 Dispatch at approximately 9:25 p.m. and launched a Coast Guard Station Frankfort 25-foot response boat-small crew and a Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City MH-60 jayhawk helicopter crew. The response boat arrived on scene first and confirmed the man was on the wall but could not assist due to shallow water.

The MH-60 helicopter crew hovered over the lighthouse on the pier and lowered a rescue swimmer who basket-hoisted the man to safety with no injuries before flying to Frankfort Dow Memorial Airport where local EMS were standing by.

The Coast Guard reminds all fishermen to be aware of their surroundings and to check the weather before going out.

The MH-60 jayhawk helicopters are new to Air Station Traverse City as the MH-65 dolphin helicopters are phased out. The jayhawk helicopters provide better capability, more power, and an ability to hoist more people. 

The last Air Station Traverse City MH-65 dolphin helicopter is scheduled to depart from the air station on Monday.

-USCG-