Three rescued from Lake Michigan near Holland after being separated from watercraft
The Park Township Fire Department's Marine Division responded to assist the Graafschap Fire Department with a water rescue about a mile south of the Holland Channel around 8 p.m. July 6, responders wrote in a release.
Two individuals, both wearing life jackets, had fallen off and become separated from their personal watercraft. They drifted about 100-200 yards from shore in wave conditions up to eight feet, according to responders.
A nearby kayaker provided initial assistance by allowing the individuals to hang onto his kayak, but he eventually became separated from his own vessel and required rescue as well.
The PTFD Marine Division responded using a personal watercraft equipped with a life sled. All three individuals were successfully rescued, evaluated on-scene, and released.
One firefighter sustained an injury during the rescue and was transported by AMR Ambulance to Holland Hospital for evaluation. They were treated and later released.
Additional support was provided by the Holland Department of Public Safety and the United States Coast Guard.
The PTFD Marine Division, in a release, stressed the importance of wearing a life jacket while taking part in activities on the water.
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'This incident underscores the importance of always wearing a life jacket when operating or riding on a personal watercraft,' the department wrote.
According to social media posts from Holland State Park, there were double red flag conditions on Lake Michigan at 8:30 p.m. July 6. Before that, there were red flag conditions beginning around 7:15 p.m.
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Three rescued from Lake Michigan near Holland on July 6
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