Boat overturns on Lake Michigan; 1 rescued, 2 dead
Boat overturns on Lake Michigan near Port Washington
PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. - Three people were rescued from Lake Michigan near Port Washington on Monday night, July 15 after their boat overturned.
U.S. Coast Guard personnel received the mayday call at 9:15 p.m. Monday. The Coast Guard, along with Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office and Port Washington Fire Department members, responded with boats and a helicopter to the suspected area of the boat’s last coordinates.
Responding rescue boats were able to locate three subjects in the water. One subject was semi-conscious and breathing, and the other two subjects were unconscious and not breathing.
All three were taken to Aurora Medical Center Hospital in Grafton. Lifesaving efforts were conducted by rescue personnel. However, the two unconscious victims were later pronounced dead.
The victims are identified as 50-year-old Brian Weinskiand and 51-year-old Erin Hartman – both from Illinois. The survivor of this incident is a 26-year-old man from Beloit.
The boat was reported to have been taking on water when a wave struck the side and overturned the boat. The boat became completely submerged prior to rescue personnel’s arrival.
On July 18 at approximately 6:24 p.m., a boater on Lake Michigan reported finding an unoccupied overturned boat approximately five miles north of the Port Washington Marina, and approximately one mile offshore. It was determined that the overturned boat was the same boat involved in the water rescue that occurred on July 15.
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"The one responsive person we rescued was also wearing a life jacket, which was critical in buying us time to find them and pull them out," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Kimberly Miller, Station Milwaukee Coxswain.