U.S. Coast Guard rescues 97-year-old man after falling over 6 feet into Grand River

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. – A man was rescued by a member of the United States Coast Guard on Tuesday after falling into Grand River.

The 97-year-old man fell at least six feet into the Grand River during ship tours at the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival on July 29 at around 7 p.m. after he lost balance while resting on his walker.

Seaman Joseph Turk, a CGC Katmai Bay crew member who has been in the Coast Guard for less than a year, immediately jumped into the water to rescue the man. He kept the man afloat by treading water for at least 20 minutes while crews worked to lower rescue equipment.

The man was taken to a local hospital with injuries to his right hand and leg.