Manistee Coast Guard, Sheriff rescue man in Lake Michigan

News Release

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

Manistee Coast Guard, Sheriff rescue man in Lake Michigan

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CLEVELAND — A multi-agency crew from Coast Guard Station Manistee, Michigan and the Manistee County Sheriff's Office rescued a man from Lake Michigan, Saturday, just south of Manistee.

Just before 8:30 a.m., the Station Manistee watchstander overheard a Manistee County Dispatch transmission regarding a person in the water, clinging to his boat and unable to climb back aboard.

A crew from Station Manistee responded, along with a Manistee County Deputy aboard to help communicate with central dispatch, to a position approximately 5 miles south of Manistee, 2 miles off shore. While en route, the crew received updated positions and successfully arrived on scene.

Once on scene, they found two people aboard the boat holding on to the man in the water. It was reported the man had fallen overboard from the 27-foot pleasure craft when he lost his footing while attempting to net a fish.

They were not able to help him back aboard due to the freeboard of the vessel and lack of a ladder or swim platform. They assisted the man in donning a life jacket and throwing him a life ring and additional life jacket prior to the arrival of the rescue crew.

The man had been in the water for approximately 45 minutes and was highly fatigued. The rescue crew deployed a surface swimmer, who assisted the man aboard the rescue boat where he was treated for hypothermia and a minor abrasion on his knee. 

The crew took the man to Station Ludington, Michigan where he was met by EMS for further treatment, and then transported to Spectrum Hospital.

The Coast Guard reminds mariners to dress for the water temperature and to always wear a life jacket.

On-scene weather was reported as waves less than a foot and a northwest wind at 5 mph. The water temperature was 61 degrees.

-USCG-