Coast Guard Rescues Boaters on Lake St. Clair Before Fireworks

Four people were rescued Monday by a U.S. Coast Guard boat crew from a 24-foot cabin cruiser that was taking on water in Lake St. Clair near Grosse Pointe.

The operator of the cabin cruiser called 911 about 9:20 p.m. to report the boat was taking on water near the . The call was transferred to Coast Guard Station Belle Isle, which notified other boaters of the distress call and launched a response boat.

Once the Coast Guard personnel arrived, the passengers were transferred to the rescue boat. Within 10 minutes, the cabin cruiser became completely submerged, according to a release from the Coast Guard.

“We could not attempt to de-water the cabin cruiser due to the amount of water in it, so the safest option was to transfer the passengers to our vessel,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeffery Gehrke, coxswain, or operator, of the rescue boat.

The passengers were transported to in Grosse Pointe Farms, and were in good medical condition, according to the Coast Guard. The names and hometowns of the passengers were not released.

“A good lesson learned from this case is that the boating public needs to be prepared for all types of accidents and notify the Coast Guard immediately," said Gehrke. "Safety gear should always be ready, as you never know when a disaster could happen."

The cabin cruiser was dewatered and towed to Grosse Pointe Yacht Club.

“Throughout the fireworks display Monday night, Station Belle Isle, Sector Detroit, and partner agencies responded to an additional four cases, resulting in 21 lives assisted in various disabled boating cases,” said Chief Petty Officer Gabriel Settel, command center supervisor, Sector Detroit, in a release.