Accidents of the Week - October 12, 2024
BoatTEST publishes “Accidents of the Week” as a public service for our VIP Subscribers to acquaint them with potential boating dangers and by inference their prevention.
Coast Guard Rescues 2 Clinging to Kayak in Lake Superior
10/6/24 – Bayfield Co., WI
Two kayakers were rescued on the weekend of 5 to 6 October, after they capsized in Lake Superior and were clinging to a kayak, officials announced.
The kayakers were part of a group of eight who were all taken back to shore by U.S. Coast Guard Station Bayfield, Wis., according to a USCG Great Lakes post on X. Both capsized kayakers were clinging to the reporting person’s kayak and were unable to get back into their own watercrafts, the post said.
Kayakers Uncertain of Return to Shore in Rough Weather
They were in the vicinity of Meyers Beach, Wisconsin. Coast Guard Station Bayfield launched a response boat medium, which arrived on site and rescued the two people in the water, the post said.
The other six kayakers were also taken aboard as they were uncertain of their ability to make it back to shore due to the weather. All kayaks were also recovered.
All eight people were taken to a marina in Cornucopia, Wis., and were evaluated to emergency medical services, the post said. No medical concerns were reported.
Young Man Drowns After Capsizing During Fishing Trip
9/24/24 – Mecosta County, MI
The body of 21-year-old Gavin Miller of Rodney, Michigan, was found around noon on 24 September by the Dive Team of the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office.
The search was resumed early morning after it had been called off the previous day due to low visibility. Using several tools including sonar and drones, search teams ultimately located Miller’s body and his boat.
On the night of 23 September around 10 p.m., deputies were sent to Lower Evans Lake in Martiny Township for a possible drowning. It was reported that two men – both from Rodney – were fishing when their boat capsized.
One was able to swim to shore and find help, but deputies said the other, later identified as Gavin Miller, was presumed to have drowned. Emergency first responders attempted to locate the missing man until the search was called off due to visibility issues and darkness.
Coast Guard Rescues Lake Michigan Canoeist
10/1/24 – St. Ignace, MI
A “Bravo Zulu” job-well-done message of congratulations was sent on 1 October by the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes Facebook account to USCG Station St. Ignace, in Michigan, after the rescue of a canoeist unable to return to shore on Lake Michigan.
A Station St. Ignace 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew got underway on the afternoon of 30 September, after receiving a report of a canoe with one person aboard, unable to make their way to shore on Lake Michigan. The Response Boat arrived on scene, took the person aboard as well as their canoe, then transported them to St Ignace, Michigan.
Boaters Reminded to Carry Safety Equipment, Wear PFD
The Coast Guard’s Facebook post reminded boaters to “#KnowBeforeYouGo. Check the weather, bring all required safety equipment, wear your lifejacket and ideally... bring a buddy!”
Coast Guard Assists Sailor After Dinghy Capsizes
9/29/24 – Manistee, MI
Coast Guard Station Manistee was congratulated for its quick response to a capsized sailing dinghy in the Manistee River in Manistee, Michigan, with one person in the water.
The US Coast Guard Great Lakes account on X posted on 29 September a “Bravo Zulu” message to the Manistee station on a job well done: “BZ #USCG STA Manistee on their quick response after report received of a capsized 14’ S/V (sailing vessel) w/ 1 PIW (person in water) IVO (in the vicinity of) Manistee River, Manistee, MI.”
“STA launched, arrived on scene and rescued the PIW. PIW was transferred to local EMS at nearby boat ramp,” the Coast Guard post concluded.
Multiple Agencies Called to Assist Kayaker on Kentucky River
10/7/24 – Russell Co., KY
Multiple agencies were called out on the morning of 7 October to assist a kayaker on Kentucky’s Cumberland River.
Russell County Search & Rescue said the call came in at around 11:45 a.m. from a kayaker who needed assistance while clinging to a log on the Cumberland River. Rescue crews mobilized and made their way to the river, where they found the kayaker safe, dry and still in his kayak.
Search & Rescue crews secured the kayak to their boat, provided him with a life jacket, and safely transported him back to his launch point. The kayaker was unharmed in the incident.
Crews Search for Boater Missing in Lake Michigan
10/6/24 – Chicago, IL
Crews searched for a missing boater in Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago on the afternoon of 6 October. The Chicago Fire Department responded to DuSable Lake Shore Drive and Randolph Street in the Loop around 12:45 p.m. for a report of a person who went missing.
Parents told local reporters that their 20-year-old son was on board the same boat as the person who disappeared. According to local news reports, a group of college students home for their fall break were on that boat.
One person apparently jumped off of the boat while it was moving, and that is when they went missing. The Chicago Fire Department (CFD) searched the water near DuSable Harbor with divers and a helicopter.
The search was then turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard and Chicago police, and was being considered a recovery mission, officials said.
National Park Ranger Dies During Lake Rescue
10/6/24 – St Louis Co., MN
Authorities released the name of a National Park Service Ranger who died on 6 October in the line of duty in Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota. According to Park Officials, 55-year-old Kevin Grossheim of Kabetogama, Minnesota, died on Namakan Lake while responding to a distress call.
In a press release, Kate Severson of Voyageurs National Park wrote that Grossheim “was a dedicated law enforcement officer, emergency services volunteer, member of the community, and beloved husband and friend.”
Ranger’s Boat Overturned in High Winds, Rough Waters
Officials said Ranger Grossheim responded on the morning of 6 October to a distress call from park visitors near Birch Cove Island. After taking a family of three aboard his National Park Service boat, the vessel overturned amid high winds and rough waters.
The three people were able to reach the shore, but Ranger Grossheim was missing. His body was recovered later that afternoon following a roughly three-hour long search.
Coast Guard Assists Sailors Dragging Anchor
9/26/24 – Cook Co., IL
A Coast Guard crew assisted two people on an 18-foot catamaran that was dragging anchor in strong winds off Chicago’s Calumet Park Beach.
On 26 September, the US Coast Guard Great Lakes account on X posted a “Bravo Zulu” message to the Chicago station on a job well done: “Yesterday, #USCG SEC Lake Michigan received report of an 18’ S/V (sailing vessel) w/ 2 POB (persons on board), wearing PFDs, dragging anchor off the rocks at #CalumetPark.”
“STA Chicago diverted to the scene and assessed the situation. Due to water depth, STA removed the 2 POB and transported them to shore. BZ (Bravo Zulu) STA!”