3 rescued after boat sinks in Monroe County

MONROE TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Three people were rescued after their boat started to sink in Monroe County early Saturday morning.

Here’s the info from the Monroe Township Fire-Rescue Department:

This morning in the early morning hours Monroe Township, LaSalle Township, Monroe City Fire and Coast Guard Toledo station rescue boat was dispatched to 3 individuals taking on water possibly 1 mile off the coast of Avalon beach in Monroe Township. Shortly after being dispatch the 3 individual’s boat was half-submerged and the individuals had to enter the water.

Within minutes of being dispatched Monroe Township Boat 2, LaSalle Marine 1 and Monroe City Marine 1 launched their rescue boats heading to the possible last known location of the 3 individuals in the water.

One of the victims was able to keep in contact with 911 dispatch with his cell phone which help locate the 3 individuals. Coast Guard Toledo rescue boat was able to locate the victims and extract them from the freezing water, one of the Coast Guard rescuers had to enter the water to help the victims up and onto the rescue boat.

The victims were brought to Bolles harbor DNR access site by the Coast Guard where 3 MCA rigs and first responders wherein staging. The victims were all transported to ST. Vincent Toledo hospital for hypothermia, their condition is unknown.

Monroe Township Fire Department wants to thank all the first responder agencies that helped in this successful water rescue and to use this close call as a reminder to everyone to be safe on the water.