On March 15, the crew of the Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw reached and rescued a 55-year-old man who became stranded on Lake Huron ice near Mackinac Island, Michigan. The man is in stable condition.
"Today's response was a phenomenal team effort in saving a person in distress," said Coast Guard Lt. William Erekson, assistant operations officer assigned to the Mackinaw.
The man, lost while operating a snowmobile, was found approximately one mile west of Sunset Rock, Michigan.
Upon receiving notification of a person in distress, Coast Guard Sector Northern Great Lakes redirected the Mackinaw toward the man's last known location. The crew coordinated with the local fire department and its first responders to gather information. Because of blizzard conditions, aerial rescue attempts were unsuccessful.
While en route, the cutter Mackinaw reported a sighting of the man and deployed its rescue team. The team found the man and recovered his snowmobile, bringing both aboard the ship. On the cutter, the man received first-level medical care, stabilizing his condition.
"All hands played a pivotal role, to include a challenging ice rescue deployment in harsh weather, seamless shipwide execution, and superb coordination with Coast Guard Sector Northern Great Lakes. This case is a powerful reminder that, when lives are on the line, the Coast Guard stands ready to respond," Erekson said.