Man Missing After Falling Overboard

Air Station Traverse City
U.S. Coast Guard

DHS USCG Banner

Press Release
Date: Nov. 6, 2005

Contact: LTJG Gabe Somma
(231) 922-8273

MAN MISSING AFTERING FALLING OVERBOARD IN ROUGH WEATHER

                (MILWAUKEE, WI) A 55 year-old man is missing after falling overboard from a sailboat in Lake Michigan earlier this weekend.

        The man, whose identity has yet to be released, has not been found. Coast Guard boat crews and an HH-65B search and rescue helicopter from Traverse City failed to locate the man in rough seas near the Milwaukee break wall. He was not wearing a lifejacket.

        The victim was making the maiden voyage on his sailboat which he had reportedly been building for years.

Despite several people being on the sailboat, no one was able to save the man after he fell overboard.

        Rescuers searched into the night, but had to suspend the search because of stormy weather late Saturday. The search resumed early Sunday morning, but the man was not found.

        Boaters are encouraged to wear anti-exposure garments along with their lifejackets during the cold boating season.

Water temperatures in Lake Michigan are currently in the mid-50’s, allowing a maximum survival time of about 4 hours. Cold water robs the body of heat 25 times faster than air, dramatically reducing one’s ability to survive. The body’s core temperature can begin to drop within minutes. Estimated survival time will significantly decrease as the water temperatures get colder. As winter approaches, water temperatures will drop below forty degrees (F), with a survival time of less than one hour.

        For more information on this story please contact the Air Station Traverse City Public Affairs Officer, LTjg Gabe Somma at 231-922-8273 / gsomma@astraversecity.uscg.mil or the Officer of the Day at 231-922-8212.

printer friendly