Night Rescue Video

Coast Guard Air Station Detroit rescues a boater in Saginaw Bay after his boat ran aground.

Video - Coast Guard Air Station crews conduct overflights along Louisiana coast

In this video released by the U.S. Coast Guard, Air Station crews from New Orleans and Air Station Detroit conduct fly overs of southern Louisiana after Hurricane Ike caused wind and flood damage to the Gulf Coast Saturday, Sept. 14, 2008. The video displays areas near Houma, La., and Dulac, La.

Coast Guard air crews scanned the damaged areas looking for people in distress. Many homes and businesses where flooded by the devastating hurricane.

U.S. Coast Guard video/PA3 Jaclyn Young

Coast Guard suspends search for 12-year-old girl in Niagara River

NIAGARA, N.Y. — The U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search for a 12-year-old girl who fell off of a rock and into the Niagara River Wednesday.

The Coast Guard and multiple agencies searched more than 36 hours for the missing girl.

A Coast Guard Air Station Detroit HH-65C Dolphin helicopter, a Station Niagara 25-foot response boat, two Coast Guard Auxiliary small boats, a Customs and Border Protection rescue helicopter, the New York State Police and the Erie County One rescue helicopter completed multiple search patterns, but were unable to find any signs of the victim.

“A search like this one and the decision to suspend the search weighs heavy on the heart of all responders,” said Lt. David French of the Ninth Coast Guard District. “Our sincerest thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this young lady.”

The search is suspended pending new information.

Coast Guard searching for 12-year-old girl in the Niagara River

NIAGARA, N.Y. - The Coast Guard is searching for a young girl who fell off of a rock and into the Niagara River Wednesday at approximately 1 p.m.

The 12-year-old  was not wearing any type of flotation device when she fell in the river.

A Coast Guard Air Station Detroit HH-65C Dolphin helicopter, a Coast Guard Station Niagara 25-foot response boat, two Coast Guard Auxiliary small boats and the Erie County One search-and-rescue helicopter are currently searching for the girl.

Coast Guard Searches for Missing Swimmer in Detroit River

DETROIT - The Coast Guard, Wayne County Marine Division, and Police Departments from Grosse Ile and Trenton, Mich., began searching the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River, yesterday, for a male swimmer who is missing.

The 39-year-old is a resident of San Diego.

The man left from a dock belonging to a family member on Grosse Ile. A family friend indicated the missing man is a good swimmer and swam in the channel in the past.

Coast Guard Station Belle Isle, Mich., received a call from the Wayne County 911 dispatcher at approximately 9 p.m., yesterday. A Coast Guard Air Station Detroit HH-65 Dolphin helicopter and a Station Belle Isle 33-foot Special Purpose Craft - Law Enforcement boat searched throughout the night and into the morning.

The Wayne County Sheriffs Marine Division, Grosse Ile Dive Team, and Grosse Ile and Trenton Police Departments are assisting with the search efforts.

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit reminds the boating public to heed all broadcasted weather warnings during impending storms. People on the water should exercise caution, wear properly fitted personal flotation device PFD/life-jacket, tell a family member or friend where they are going and when they will return, and have a reliable means of communication.

Sector Detroit directly oversees all Coast Guard missions from Alpena, Mich., to Vermilion, Ohio, on Lake Huron, the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers, Lake St. Clair and Western Lake Erie.

Coast Guard Rescues Three Boaters in Western Lake Erie

MONROE, Mich. — The Coast Guard rescued three people from Lake Erie, today, after their 21-foot pleasure craft was taking on water at approximately 12:30 p.m.

A Coast Guard Air Station Detroit HH-65C Dolphin helicopter, a Coast Guard Station Belle Isle 33-foot Special Purpose Craft - Law Enforcement and a Coast Guard Station Toledo 25-foot response boat were launched to assist the three boaters.

The Dolphin crew deployed a rescue swimmer to assist with the transfer of the boaters to the Station Toledo response boat. Station Toledo transferred the boaters to shore.

All three boaters were wearing life jackets.

“The Coast Guard would like to highlight the fact that these boaters were wearing lifejackets,” said Petty Officer Robert K. Lanier, Ninth Coast Guard District Asst. Public Affairs Officer. “The law requires recreational boaters to have a life jacket for every person on board. We recommend recreational boaters go one step further and wear life jackets at all times when boating.”

For additional boating safety tips, go to www.uscgboating.org/.

Coast Guard Rescues Husband and Wife from Lake Ontario

OSWEGO, N.Y.  (D9 Public Affairs) - The Coast Guard rescued a husband and his wife, yesterday, in Northeast Lake Ontario after the husband fell into the water and the wife remained adrift on their catamaran.

Dick Slettenhar and Ellen Kupers, of the Netherlands, were visiting the Eastern Great Lakes. They departed Prince Edwards Bay in their catamaran on Monday evening.

Slettenhar observed something wrong with the boat’s sail and went forward to correct the problem. He was returning to the helm when he slipped and fell into the water.

Kupers efforts to recover him were unsuccessful. At approximately 3 p.m., she contacted 911 dispatch.

A U.S. Coast Guard Station Oswego 47-foot Motor Lifeboat was launched at 3:56 p.m. and recovered Kupers. She was transferred to a 33-foot response boat and taken to Station Oswego.

A U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Detroit HH-65 Dolphin helicopter; the Station Oswego 47-foot MLB; a Canadian C-130 and a Griffin helicopter dispatched from Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Trenton; the Canadian Coast Guard Cutter Cape Hearne; and an Oswego Police helicopter were launched to search for Slettenhar who was adrift in Lake Ontario.

Slettenhar was recovered by the Coast Guard helicopter, at approximately 11:30 p.m., and taken to a local hospital in Oswego were he was treated for mild hypothermia.

“Slettenhar was wearing, and not only possessing, a personal floatation device,” said Lt. David French, Ninth Coast Guard District Public Affairs Officer. “That act was integral in his recovery.”

Coast Guard Conducts Search for Missing Boater

DETROIT - Coast Guard Sector Detroit received a report of a woman falling overboard from a recreational boat near the center of Lake St Clair late yesterday evening. The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit is coordinating search and rescue efforts along with the Macomb County and St. Clair County Marine Patrols.

Approximately 7:45pm last night, Macomb County Emergency Operations Center received a call from a boat operator stating a passenger had fallen overboard. The operator was not able to recover the victim and had trouble communicating the situation, operating the boat and anchoring. A Coast Guard small boat from Station St Clair Shores was on a patrol and found the boaters in distress. Upon boarding, the male operator was found on deck, heavily intoxicated and unconscious. A female passenger was observed in the boat’s cabin; she was also intoxicated, unconscious, had a low heart rate and in need of immediate medical attention. The two were transported to Station St Clair Shores. The female passenger was then transported to St John’s Hospital for treatment. The operator is in custody of the Macomb County Sheriffs.

A third passenger, an approximately 25 year old female, remains missing. Initial reports indicate she fell overboard while the vessel was underway from 9-mile to Muscamoot Bay. Small boats from Macomb County and St Clair County Marine Divisions, Coast Guard Station St Clair Shores and a helicopter from Air Station Detroit conducted extensive searches. The Coast Guard helicopter and small boat continued their search efforts throughout the night near the St. Clair Crib Light. The Macomb County Sheriff conducted an investigation.

Coast Guard Sector Detroit reminds the boating public to heed all broadcast weather warnings during impending storms. People on the water should exercise caution, wear properly fitted personal flotation device (PFD/life-jacket), tell a family member or friend where they are going and when they will return, and have a reliable means of communication.

Coast Guard Sector Detroit directly oversees all Coast Guard missions from Alpena, Michigan to Vermillion, Ohio on Lake Huron, the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers, Lake St. Clair and Western Lake Erie.