Woman falls off boat, is rescued in Lake Superior Peter Passi Duluth News Tribune Published Monday, September 10, 2007 Julie Rosen of Duluth is what you could call an extremely lucky woman. While sailing solo Sunday in Lake Superior, the 52-year-old fell from her boat and was rescued after spending more than an hour adrift in Lake Superior without a life vest. Authorities received a 911 call reporting a sailboat beached on Park Point at4:50 p.m. Sunday. RELATED CONTENT Peter Passi Archive Mark Howard, a commercial fisherman, was just returning from his nets on the lake when he noticed the beached boat and attempted to make contact with it. He got within about 20 feet of it and could see no one aboard. He tried to make radio contact, but there was no answer. Responding authorities found Rosen’s boat empty and aground about 200 feet offshore near the Aerial Lift Bridge with its engine still running. U.S. Coast Guard Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Stephen Braun said the vessel’s engine was engaged in a forward position. He said several empty beer bottles also were found aboard, but it’s unclear whether alcohol was a factor in the accident. Emergency recovery efforts began immediately, with boats from the Coast Guard, the St. Louis County Rescue Squad and the Duluth Fire Department all engaged in the search for Rosen. Assistant Fire Chief Richard Mattson said the agencies also receivedassistance from other boats in the area. “It was probably the best example of teamwork between organizations you’ll ever see,” Mattson said. At 6:10 p.m., Eric Kilpo of St. Louis County Rescue Squad said he heard Rosen shouting for help and spotted her floating on her back more than 100 yards away from his rescue vessel. With the help of fellow rescue squad members Brian Johnson and Lt. Jon Koop, Kilpo fished Rosen from the water, wrapped her in blankets and rushed her to the U.S. Coast Guard Station on Park Point. “She was conscious and coherent but very blue,” Braun said. “She was definitely hypothermic.” Rosen was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center for medical treatment. She was recovered about a half-mile from where her boat was found. Braun likened finding a single person afloat in Lake Superior to trying to locate a needle in a haystack. It’s unclear exactly when or how Rosen went overboard, but she spent at least 1 hour and 15 minutes treading water. Braun said the surface water temperature of the lake was between 63 and64 degrees. Mattson said the abandoned sailboat’s jib and mainsail had been lowered but were not properly lashed. He speculated that Rosen may have been thrown from the vessel as she was working to secure the sails. Winds were blowing out of the northeast at about12 mph Sunday evening, according to the National Weather Service. The air temperature at 6 p.m. was59 degrees at Sky Harbor Airport on Park Point. Mattson said members of his Rescue I team freed the 30-foot sailboat using a12-foot Zodiac boat. They fastened a line to the mast of the beached vessel, then tipped the boat on its side to reduce its draft. A 38-foot Carver was then able to pull the sailboat into deeper water. Mattson said the vessel appeared to be undamaged and was towed back to its regular mooring at the Lakehead Boat Basin on Park Point. Braun said he hopes recreational boaters will take some lessons away from Sunday’s incident: “When you’re out on your own, always make sure to share your plans with someone else, and always wear your PFD [personal flotation device]. It doesn’t do you any good if you don’t have it on.”
Woman falls off boat, is rescued in Lake Superior
- Thread starter Pthelen
- Start date
- Status
No, not this time!
The only time I went in the water accidentally this year was the day I was trying to step up onto the boat afom the dock and my foot slipped and I went sploosh right into the water. It was early June and quite chilly. Apparently I was quite a sight when they fished me out....
The only time I went in the water accidentally this year was the day I was trying to step up onto the boat afom the dock and my foot slipped and I went sploosh right into the water. It was early June and quite chilly. Apparently I was quite a sight when they fished me out....
pthelen, Sorry for interrupting your thread!
I would like to inquire to the Princess O'De Lake what ever happened to the main furler? However, there was this day about 8 years ago that I was anchored with my boat without a swim ladder that I regularly walked out the catwalk and around the outside of the shrouds (no life lines)to go forward, when in a split second, I was in the water looking up at the waterline from about 2 feet under water. Yes, my glasses stayed on my head so that I could see. I had stepped on the jib sheet that rolled me right off the boat. Fortunately I went straight down without banging my head on the gunwale. I was alive and thinking about if I had hit my head on the boat on the way in, no one would noticed until atleast Monday. That was the thinking as I came to the surface. The next problem was getting on to a boat that the gunwale was about 3' above the waterline...I made it but also had a permanent ladder installed the next weekend. I was anchored, but had I been moving... I may not be writting this. If you are sailing alone, wear a life jacket! Your loved ones will be happy when they find you alive! r.w.landau
I would like to inquire to the Princess O'De Lake what ever happened to the main furler? However, there was this day about 8 years ago that I was anchored with my boat without a swim ladder that I regularly walked out the catwalk and around the outside of the shrouds (no life lines)to go forward, when in a split second, I was in the water looking up at the waterline from about 2 feet under water. Yes, my glasses stayed on my head so that I could see. I had stepped on the jib sheet that rolled me right off the boat. Fortunately I went straight down without banging my head on the gunwale. I was alive and thinking about if I had hit my head on the boat on the way in, no one would noticed until atleast Monday. That was the thinking as I came to the surface. The next problem was getting on to a boat that the gunwale was about 3' above the waterline...I made it but also had a permanent ladder installed the next weekend. I was anchored, but had I been moving... I may not be writting this. If you are sailing alone, wear a life jacket! Your loved ones will be happy when they find you alive! r.w.landau
How Many TImes Do We Have to Read Storeis Like Thi
It seems folks who solo and fall off their boat and get rescued or recovered are becomming commonplace these days! Perhaps our intentions are that we will never be in harms way, but the simple formula remains...........solo = life vest, simple enough. Step aboard your vessel and set out on your own and your paranoia should strike deep in your gut when your ready to walk about the deck without a lifevest, let alone a harness and tether. Enough of this madness already, people! Bob
It seems folks who solo and fall off their boat and get rescued or recovered are becomming commonplace these days! Perhaps our intentions are that we will never be in harms way, but the simple formula remains...........solo = life vest, simple enough. Step aboard your vessel and set out on your own and your paranoia should strike deep in your gut when your ready to walk about the deck without a lifevest, let alone a harness and tether. Enough of this madness already, people! Bob
Bob, we live in a country
that the media loves to attack blood and guts. I have a friend in Afanistan that has been filmed about four times and the good news is not shown on US TV. In fact even their troubles in Afganistan are ignored. We have troops in Afganistan! You want to be a good guy, find an address to a unit and send them a box of beef jerky. (it is prime in their life right now.) Life in Afganistan is pretty primative. Our guys are there. send them something. I went for the $8.00 usps flat rate box. Put anything in the box for $8.00. You will also need to fill out a customs form. Actually it is fun filling out the form. When it asks the contents, and I write," BEEF JERKY", that was fun. Oh, back to the subject, yes I am glad she was rescued! Lake Superior is dangerous also. r.w.landau
that the media loves to attack blood and guts. I have a friend in Afanistan that has been filmed about four times and the good news is not shown on US TV. In fact even their troubles in Afganistan are ignored. We have troops in Afganistan! You want to be a good guy, find an address to a unit and send them a box of beef jerky. (it is prime in their life right now.) Life in Afganistan is pretty primative. Our guys are there. send them something. I went for the $8.00 usps flat rate box. Put anything in the box for $8.00. You will also need to fill out a customs form. Actually it is fun filling out the form. When it asks the contents, and I write," BEEF JERKY", that was fun. Oh, back to the subject, yes I am glad she was rescued! Lake Superior is dangerous also. r.w.landau
r.w.
if we have to be the people sending beef jerky to our troops in Afghanistan, then could it be that the commissary isn't doing too good of job? Solo: life jacket ON. All other times: too.
if we have to be the people sending beef jerky to our troops in Afghanistan, then could it be that the commissary isn't doing too good of job? Solo: life jacket ON. All other times: too.
Stu, I just know that there are guys
that are in a country with nothing. They are fighting our battle and they like beek jerky. That is what I know , that is why I send it. If you are going political, I will not respond. Our guys are there, they are fighting for us, what more qualification do you want. To me, the lady that was rescued is minor info compared to knowing how our troops in Afganistan are doing. She is alive! praise God, how are our troops? She was enjoying life, our guys overseas are fighting for life. Has reality escaped us here in the US? r.w.landau
that are in a country with nothing. They are fighting our battle and they like beek jerky. That is what I know , that is why I send it. If you are going political, I will not respond. Our guys are there, they are fighting for us, what more qualification do you want. To me, the lady that was rescued is minor info compared to knowing how our troops in Afganistan are doing. She is alive! praise God, how are our troops? She was enjoying life, our guys overseas are fighting for life. Has reality escaped us here in the US? r.w.landau
Explain how one is more important than the other
please. Could always take this over to the "Dark Side", but this is a lifejacket thread.
please. Could always take this over to the "Dark Side", but this is a lifejacket thread.
Stu, It is a life jacket thread...
I guess I got carried away with something that is close to me. Sorry! r.w.landau
I guess I got carried away with something that is close to me. Sorry! r.w.landau
PFD + VHF
PFD - Good PFD + handheld VHF in the PFD pocket = not only your rescue but possibly response fast enough to rescue your boat too. Even keep it from damaginghurting someone else. PFD + VHF + flares + whistle + holding on in the 1st place = Priceless
PFD - Good PFD + handheld VHF in the PFD pocket = not only your rescue but possibly response fast enough to rescue your boat too. Even keep it from damaginghurting someone else. PFD + VHF + flares + whistle + holding on in the 1st place = Priceless
- Status