6 Boats Capsize-- 21 Saved, 1 Died
As is usually the case, Memorial Day weekend and week in North America was fraught with boating accidents as thousands of boaters with cabin fever rushed their vessels into the water, many owners paying scant attention to the vessels’ sea-keeping details or the conditions. Most of the accidents involved small boats (14’ to 24’) being swamped for various reasons and then capsizing, leaving the occupants clinging to the side of the hulls. Many of these boaters were not wearing PFDs. All six of these accidents occurred in freshwater locations.
 This owner is sitting on the bow of a new boat that was reported on its first outing. When small boats fill with water they usually capsize. Only powerboats 20’ or smaller with 2-hp engines or greater are required by the USCG to float level. |
See companion article with advice about how to avoid capsizing---
The following reports are from local newspapers and local TV station on-line reports--
Coast Guard pulls 3 men from Lake Michigan
WoodTV.com--
SAUGATUCK, Mich. June 5, 1011- Three boaters were rescued from Lake Michigan after their boat capsized Saturday night.
It happened about 3 1/2 miles northwest of the Saugatuck pier.
"Using their radio, they were able to notify us quickly that they were in distress -- and pass critical information, including their location, moments before their boat capsized," Petty Officer Second Class Branden Shevchook said. "This rescue illustrates how important it is for boater to have VHF-FM marine radios."
2 of 3 Wearing PFDs
A 25-foot response boat was dispatched from the Holland Coast Guard Station to rescue the men. When the crew arrived, responders found all three boaters clinging to their 24-foot recreational boat. Two of the men were wearing life jackets.
Two of the boaters, ages 28 and 30, are from Allegan, and the third, age 50, is from Otsego.
The rescue crew took the boaters to EMTs that were waiting on shore. The men may have suffered mild hypothermia, but no other injuries were reported as a result of the boat capsizing.
A commercial salvage company was called out to remove the capsized boat from the water.
4 Rescued from Lake Erie
ToledoBlade.com--
MARBLEHEAD, Ohio -- Good Samaritan sailors went to the rescue of four people in Lake Erie Thursday morning when their boat was capsized by waves, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
The 20-foot bass fishing boat was swamped by a wave that came over the stern and overwhelmed the bilge pump at about 8:40 a.m., three-quarters of a mile from the Lakeside Association dock at Lakeside, said Petty Officer Michael Power of the Coast Guard at Marblehead.
One of the recreational fishermen who went to the rescue of the swamped boaters said there were some tense moments.
Alert Boaters to the Rescue
James Bohs, 74, of Upper Sandusky, said the fishing boat he was on with four other men had launched from the Mazurik State Wildlife Area ramp near Lakeside and was headed toward Kelleys Island when they saw another boat that appeared to be sitting unusually low in the water. The men realized it was sinking.
1 of 4 Wearing PFD
By the time they arrived, the fishing boat was upside down in the water and three men, ages 18, 49, and 58, and one woman, 52, all from Mansfield, were in the water, and it appeared only one of the men had a flotation vest.
"We had two extras. We threw those over to them. The lady was in a seat cushion, and a gentleman was hanging on to the seat cushion with her," Mr. Bohs said. He said the woman in the water urged them to help the man because he had a heart condition.
"We were shaken up when we saw them in the water. That's very traumatic when you see four people in the water when they didn't have life jackets," he said.
Too Heavy to Haul In
Mr. Bohs said they were unable to hoist the man into their boat, and he seemed weak, so he and two of his friends held the man's arms and belt until the Coast Guard arrived about 10 minutes later. Mr. Bohs said he reached the Coast Guard by dialing 911 on his cell phone.
He said the Coast Guard pulled alongside and pulled the man aboard. Petty Officer Power said a second private vessel pulled the other victims out of the water.
He said the four people were set ashore at the Mazurik ramp, where they were tended to by emergency responders. He said there were no reports of injuries. The boat was towed in by a salvage company.
Mr. Bohs, a retired industrial engineer, said he and his companions had planned to go fishing just southeast of Kelley’s Island but decided to cancel their plans and go home.
"We decided we'd had enough for the day," he said.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Joshua Peters expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by other boaters.
"Even though the air temperature has warmed significantly over the past week, the water is still cold, so the good Samaritans' swift response got the boaters out of harm's way quickly," Petty Officer Peters said.
He said the water was 68 degrees and waves were two feet.
Body of Missing Man Found
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Daily Dunklin Democrat
The body of a missing Campbell, Mo., boater was recovered on Wednesday, June 1, near Kennett, following a boating accident over Memorial Day weekend.
According to the Clay County Sheriff's Department, Charles Dickens, 30, had been missing since Sunday, after the boat he and three friends were fishing from capsized on the St. Francis River near Piggott, Ark.
According to Clay County Sheriff Gerald McClung, deputies were trolling the river by boat when Dickens' body was found, about 1.5 miles south of the St. Francis River bridge near Kennett, approximately 12 miles from where the accident took place.
Flood-Swollen River
McClung said Dickens' boat capsized on the flood swollen waters of the St. Francis River near the Highway 1 bridge, east of Piggott, at about 5 a.m. Sunday.
"They went down the levee about three-quarters of a mile from Highway 1; they put the boat in the water and launched there," McClung explained. "They just got into the main stream, started the engine and began north toward Highway 1."
McClung said the accident occurred as the boat's front immediately began to take on water and capsized, describing the water at the location as being at least 15 feet deep and "so swift because the water right now is still up 
stuff coming down."
How Many of 4 Wearing PFDs?
McClung said his department arrived at the scene following a 911 call to Dunklin County. Upon arrival, officers met with Shannon Dye, of Holcomb, Mo., and Johnny Kotte, of Campbell, who were able to get out of the water and back to the highway.
The sheriff said at that point, both Dickens, and his wife Lisa, 26, were missing.
Woman Saved Wearing PFD
"We got the rescue squad in there and searched, and at about 9:30 that morning, we were able to locate Lisa Dickens," McClung said, adding that Lisa, who was wearing a life vest, had held onto branches to stay out of the water. She then wandered the woods after making it to the bank.
When she heard a boat, "she went toward the sound and began to scream," McClung said. "They were able to rescue her."
Assisting in the search were members of the Clay County Search and Rescue, Dunklin County Sheriff's Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol's Water Division, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, as well as numerous volunteers, McClung said.
* Information from Clay County Times Democrat and SEMO News Service.
Two Men Rescued From Capsized Boat
June 1, 2011/Channel 3000--
EDGERTON, Wis. -- Two Illinois men are lucky to be alive after their boat capsized while fishing in Lake Koshkonong, Wisconsin on Tuesday night.
The men were rescued just before 11 p.m. Tuesday by firefighters from Edgerton, who located the fishermen in the water and pulled them to safety.
The two men, Matthew Williams, 25, of South Beloit, Ill., and Jayson Williams, 24, of Machesney Park, Ill., went out fishing from Dallman's Landing in Chiarley Bluff just after 9 p.m. on Tuesday. According to the Rock County Sheriff's Department, the boat was suddenly overcome by choppy waters, took on water and started to capsize right after they left the dock.
0 of 2 Wearing PFDs
Both men were able to get back to and sit on the bottom of the overturned boat before being rescued. One of the men was able to call 911 from a cell phone, which had become partially submerged in water.
According to the Sheriff's Department, both men were experienced boaters and somewhat familiar with the lake. They had life jackets in the boat, but neither man had a chance to put one on prior to the boat capsizing.
The Sheriff's Department said alcohol and speed weren't contributing factors in the incident and no charges are expected at this time.
Rock County deputies and Edgerton firefighters were eventually able to get the boat upright and towed back to Dallman’s Landing.
Rescue of 9 people from 15’ Capsized Boat
By Luke Nichols/Daily Sun staff writer Beatrice Daily Sun Online, Wednesday, June 1, 2011
A Wymore man was cited at Rockford Lake, Nebraska Monday evening after the boat he was driving capsized, sending all nine occupants into the lake.
Dan Zuehlke, conservation officer for Nebraska Game and Parks, said Kevin Marom was driving a 15-foot fiberglass speedboat during windy conditions Monday.
Boat’s Max Capacity: 5
The boat’s maximum capacity was five, but Marom had eight other occupants with him including five children. Zuehlke said wind gusts Monday afternoon were near 50 mph causing two to three foot waves on Rockford Lake. The boat capsized after nose-diving into a swell.
A rescue effort was led by Mike Alm, another boater on the lake at the time, who transported the children into the shoreline.
“The conditions were pretty bad,” Zuehlke said. “It was nothing short of a miracle that we aren’t looking for bodies in the water today.”
All Kids Wearing PFDs
All five children in the boat were wearing life jackets, there were no injuries.
Marom was later cited for negligent operation, which carries a $150 fine.
Zuehlke said now is the time of year when boating is popular and he hopes people have safety plans in place for such occasions. He said his biggest piece of advice is to have life jackets available.
“Make sure all kids 12 and under are wearing life jackets,” Marom said. “And make sure they’re available for everybody else, just in case an accident does happen.”
Overloading, Weather, Lack of PFDs
Zuehlke said life jackets must be available to all boat occupants. Failure to do so, he added, can result in a fine of $100 from the Game and Parks Department.
Also, boaters should keep a close eye on weather forecasts, Zuehlke said, adding boaters should stay off the water in extremely windy conditions.
Safety Tips From the Sheriff
Gage County Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson also had a few tips for boaters this summer. He said driving a boat while under the influence of alcohol can be a dangerous combination.
“We’ve arrested people in the past for boating drunk,” Gustafson said. “The results of boating drunk can be just as treacherous as driving a car drunk.”
Gustafson also said boaters should keep their occupancy below the boat’s limit and agreed with Zuehlke that boaters should keep a close eye on the weather.
“If you have strong winds, it’s never a good idea to go out, especially in small boats,” Gustafson said. “People just need to use good common sense.”
Zuehlke said Monday’s incident could have been disastrous, but hopes it’s a good learning tool for other boaters.
“Having all nine of those people standing on the shore when we got out there was a miracle,” Zuehlke said. “We want people to have fun at the lake this summer, but we also want them to be safe.”
2 Fishermen Rescued After Boat Capsizes
New Brunswick, Canada--
It happened north of the causeway near the Manning Boat Launch on Pymatuning Reservoir in Crawford County.
Officials said two men from Punxsutawney were fishing about 11:30 a.m. when their 14-foot boat started taking on water and then capsized.
"The waves kept coming over the back of the boat, and my buddy said, 'we're going down', so then we tried to make it back to the bank but we couldn't make it back to the bank," said Ken Mercer, Jr. "It wasn't a matter of three, four minutes the boat was going under water."
Whistle Blower
The men hung on to the side of their boat, and one began to blow a whistle.
Those on a nearby pontoon boat rescued the fishermen, who left their boat 300 yards off shore until the water calms down.
Mercer said he lost the majority of his things on the boat, and his family was helping him gather everything that washed up along the shore after the ordeal.
See
companion article with advice about how to avoid capsizing---