Coast Guard air crew rescues stranded kayaker in Lake Superior

65 Traverse CityCLEVELAND — A Coast Guard air crew rescued a kayaker in Lake Superior Friday afternoon.

At 1 p.m., Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, received an emergency transmission over marine radio from a kayaker reporting that he and three other kayakers had capsized and had become separated from their group in Lake Superior near Grand Island.

Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie watchstanders instructed the launch of a rescue boat from Coast Guard Station Marquette, Michigan, and a rescue helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City.

Also responding was a rescue crew from the National Park Service launching from Munising Harbor, Michigan.

The NPS crew arrived on scene with one of the kayakers but was unable to rescue him due to shallow water.

The rescue crew from Air Station Traverse City arrived on scene and hoisted the kayaker to safety.

After being rescued, the kayaker gave information on the other missing people and it was determined they had all made it to shore safely.

“All of the kayakers survived today in large part because they were dressed for the weather, experienced, and had radios to call for help,” said Lt. Katie Pelkey, public affairs officer at Air Station Traverse City.


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