CLEVELAND – The Coast Guard rescued a 16-year old boy from Lake Erie, Friday afternoon, after he became stranded on a breakwall near Avon, Ohio.
Just after 3 p.m., search-and-rescue controllers at Coast Guard Sector Buffalo received a report of two people stranded on the breakwall at Avon Point after their personal watercraft broke down and they were blown by the wind onto the breakwall.
The search-and-rescue controller directed the launch of a Coast Guard Station Lorain boat crew aboard a 25-foot response boat.
Also responding was a rescue crew from the Avon Fire Department. One of the firemen had walked onto the breakwall from shore to assist one of the teens back to shore. However, the 16-year old boy, who was barefoot, was unable to walk to shore on the sharp rocks.
The Coast Guard boat crew threw a line to the fireman on the breakwall who tied it onto the boy and assisted him into the water so he could swim to the Coast Guard boat.
After the teenager made it safely to the response boat, the fireman then tied the line to the pleasure craft and paddled it to the Coast Guard boat.
The teen and personal watercraft were transferred to a rescue boat crew from the Avon Fire Department, who took both back to shore.
“Search and rescue missions always stand the best chance of success when partners work together,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric Eberl, a member of the Coast Guard Station Lorain rescue boat crew.
The Coast Guard reminds all boaters to remain vigilant while on the water by being aware of your surroundings, including the weather conditions. Wear your life jackets at all times and be prepared for emergency situations by having signaling and working communication devices on board.
