Water patrol rescues two people, boat takes one water

RACINE (AP) — Rescuers have brought a stranded father and son safely back to shore after their fishing boat filled with water on Lake Michigan off Racine.

The Racine County Sheriff's Office says its water patrol responded to a distress call around 8:30 a.m. Saturday, about four miles off shore. The caller told dispatchers the boat was taking on water and the engine wouldn't shift into gear.

The water patrol towed the 18-foot boat back to a boat launch where the operator, a 51-year-old Racine man and his 18-year-old son were able to pull it out of the water.

The owner was ticketed for an equipment violation after authorities determined a water intake was not connected to the engine properly, causing water to flood the boat instead of cooling the engine.