Coast Guard, good Samaritans rescue boater near Milwaukee

A Coast Guard Station Milwaukee Response boat and good Samaritans rescued a man on Lake Michigan near Milwaukee Harbor, Wisconsin, Wednesday.

Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan watchstanders received notification of a 17-foot Alumacraft under power with no persons aboard, and they issued an urgent marine information broadcast, directed a Coast Guard Station Milwaukee boat crew, and a Coast Guard Air Facility Waukegan MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to search for a potential person in the water.

A good Samaritan stopped the unmanned Alumacraft. Another good Samaritan notified the Coast Guard via VHF Channel 16 radio that they had located an unresponsive man in the water in the approximate area where the Alumacraft was reported.

The Coast Guard Station Milwaukee boat crew arrived on-scene, retrieved the man from the water, administered CPR and transferred him to local emergency medical services. He was then transported to Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center for treatment.

The Coast Guard confirmed with the man’s family that he was the only person aboard the vessel and stood-down search assets.

"The Coast Guard often relies on the willingness of the boating community to assist with search and rescue cases to keep fellow mariners safe in the vast area of the Great Lakes," said Lt. Cmdr. Bryan Swintek, Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan search and rescue coordinator. "The successful resolution of this case started with the man wearing his life jacket. The good Samaritans who reported and responded to the case were also essential in rescuing the man."

The Coast Guard urges the boating public to always wear a Coast Guard-approved, properly-fitted and functioning life jacket while on the water.