CLEVELAND — The Coast Guard rescued two women from Lake Michigan near the north pier head in Grand Haven, Michigan, after their kayaks overturned, Monday afternoon.
The names of the women are not being released and there is no Coast Guard imagery or video.
Just before 5 p.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan in Milwaukee were notified by Ottawa County Dispatch of two women in the water off the north pier head in Grand Haven after their kayaks had overturned.
Sector Lake Michigan directed the launch of a boat crew from Coast Guard Station Grand Haven aboard a 25-foot response boat and issued an urgent marine information broadcast, advising mariners of the situation, asking them to keep a sharp lookout, assist if possible and to report any sightings to the nearest Coast Guard unit.
The Station Grand Haven crew arrived on-scene within minutes of being dispatched, rescued the two women and brought them and their kayaks safely back to the north pier head near where the women had launched.
The women were not wearing life jackets. The Coast Guard urges all boaters to wear a properly-fitted, Coast Guard approved life jacket at all times while underway. It only takes a second to unexpectedly find yourself in the water, where trying to put a life jacket on after the fact can become extremely challenging, if not impossible.