Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter file photo
CHICAGO ⎯ The Coast Guard rescued two people from the water near Waukegan, Illinois, Tuesday evening.
Kathleen Root, 31, and Michael Root were hoisted by an MH-60 helicopter aircrew from Air Station Traverse City at approximately 7 p.m. central standard time.
Watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan received a report at approximately 4 p.m. that the operator from a sailing vessel recovered an unmanned personal watercraft approximately three miles offshore Lake Forest Park Beach two and half hours prior. The PWC had two cell phones, a set of keys, and a wallet with identification cards aboard.
Sector Lake Michigan watchstanders issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast, performed call-outs to missed calls from the cell phone, and launched search and rescue crews. Local authorities located the missing persons’ vehicle and empty PWC trailer in the marina parking lot at Naval Base Great Lakes.
A Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew arrived on-scene and commenced a track line search from Naval Base Great Lakes to the last known position of the PWC.
Approximately two and a half miles into the search, the helicopter crew located both individuals wearing lifejackets and waving their arms. The aircrew deployed the rescue swimmer, hoisted the survivors, and transported them to local emergency medical services where they were treated for mild hypothermia.
Assets involved in the search included response boat crews from Coast Guard Station Wilmette and Coast Guard Station Calumet Harbor, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Traverse City, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Detroit, and a C-130 crew from Joint Rescue Coordination Center Trenton.
