HOLLAND (WTHC-AM/FM) —
Ottawa County Sheriff’s marine and road patrol officers rushed to save teen siblings from Illinois Sunday evening, after their kayaks sank on Lake Michigan, near the Port Sheldon pier heads, according to a Sheriff’s Office statement emailed to media.
Police were summoned just after 5:15 p.m. Sunday, to the report of two people in the water. A Sheriff’s Office patrol boat with two Marine deputies aboard happened to be on Pigeon Lake at the time, on an unrelated matter, police said. They responded directly to the area, finding an 18-year-old male and 17-year-old female, both “struggling in the water, and the male subject was attempting to keep the female afloat. Deputies found the female was partially submerged upon their arrival,” the Sheriff’s Office statement read.
The deputies immediately used a throwable lifeline as well as a Type IV throwable floatation device to the siblings. Both were able to grab the life-savers and were pulled to the patrol boat and then on board.
The deputies motored to shore and a waiting EMS crew. today, The brother and sister are recovering at home.
Police later learned the two had paddled out onto the water, but, realizing they were too far from shore, they attempted to turn back, at which point the kayaks were taking on water.
Both kayaks sank kayaks at this time did sink leaving the subjects swimming in the waters. Each kayak had life jackets aboard but the siblings were not wearing them.
Once in the water they began to yelling for help at which time a person on shore heard their cries for help and called 911.
The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office statement ended with a reminder to everyone “to use personal floatation devices when on or around the lakes and waters. Water safety is something everyone can practice and is an easy way to save lives and prevent tragedies.”
