Coast Guard Rescues Boaters in Lake St. Clair

Nearly 20 people had to be rescued or assisted this past weekend, including five in Lake St. Clair, the Coast Guard reported.

Three people were rescued Friday evening by a boat crew from St. Clair Shores after their 16-foot boat was taking on water in the Middle Channel near Gull Island. The three people, who were all wearing life jackets, were transported to shore.

Early Saturday morning, a Coast Guard aircrew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter from Air Station Detroit, at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, airlifted two people off a grounded vessel in Lake St. Clair near Strawberry Island. The people were showing signs of hypothermia, the Coast Guard reported. Two other people in the vessel were transported by a boat crew from Station St. Clair Shores to shore. 

Coast Guard personnel reported that the two people who were airlifted improved once they were in the helicopter, and were turned over to their father once they landed at Air Station Detroit.