Date: July 23, 2008 

Contact: Ninth District Public Affairs Office
(216) 902-6020 office
(216) 310-2608 cell

 COAST GUARD ASSISTS THREE BOATERS IN WESTERN LAKE ERIE

MONROE, Mich. -- The Coast Guard rescued three people from Lake Erie, today, after their 21-foot pleasure craft was taking on water at approximately 12:30 p.m.

A Coast Guard Air Station Detroit HH-65C Dolphin helicopter, a Coast Guard Station Belle Isle 33-foot Special Purpose Craft - Law Enforcement and a Coast Guard Station Toledo 25-foot response boat were launched to assist the three boaters.

The Dolphin crew deployed a rescue swimmer to assist with the transfer of the boaters to the Station Toledo response boat.  Station Toledo transferred the boaters to shore.

All three boaters were wearing life jackets. 

"The Coast Guard would like to highlight the fact that these boaters were wearing lifejackets," said Petty Officer Robert K. Lanier, Ninth Coast Guard District Asst. Public Affairs Officer.  "The law requires recreational boaters to have a life jacket for every person on board.  We recommend recreational boaters go one step further and wear life jackets at all times when boating."

For additional boating safety tips, go to www.uscgboating.org/.  

For further information, contact Petty Officer Matthew Schofield, Ninth Coast Guard District Public Affairs, at (216) 310-2608.

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