Very Lucky Boater in Milwaukee
 

18 miles would be a heck of a long swim :eek:


Lake Michigan Ferry Spots Man Clinging To Seat Cushion

POSTED: 6:48 am EDT August 22, 2005

MILWAUKEE -- A man whose powerboat was capsized by a wave early Sunday in Lake Michigan happened to be spotted by a ferry crew almost two hours later.

The Coast Guard said Thomas Drewek was clinging to a seat cushion almost 18 miles from shore. He was not wearing a life jacket and had not had a chance to use his radio.

A Coast Guard spokesman said the ferry -- which runs between Milwaukee and Muskegon, Mich. -- happened to spot Drewek "just by chance."

Drewek is apparently in good shape. He wanted to walk off the ferry by himself, but paramedics wouldn't let him. The Coast Guard said he could have survived for about 36 hours in the 65- to 70-degree water.

Re: Very Lucky Boater in Milwaukee
 

Yep, heard it on the news this morning. Lake Michigan is nothing to mess around with. Very lucky man!

Re: Very Lucky Boater in Milwaukee
 

He is lucky. There was a family last weekend that jumped into the water to help their kids back to the boat. The boat drifted off, one survived 12 hours in the waterand another mangaed to swim to shore.

Re: Very Lucky Boater in Milwaukee
 

And a couple of weeks before that a kid went in when he didn't allow for a headwind. Been a bad year on the lake.

Re: Very Lucky Boater in Milwaukee
 

We were out on the lake this weekend, alot of wind. I thought it was strange to be 18 miles out alone with the wind we had....

Re: Very Lucky Boater in Milwaukee
 

always have to keep one person in the boat, even if your have to tow a person to shore because you can't get em in the boat.

Re: Very Lucky Boater in Milwaukee
 

18 miles offshore, alone, and no jacket on?!?!? I fully expect to hear about this guy as a future Darwin award winner...

Re: Very Lucky Boater in Milwaukee
 

Thinning the herd...

Re: Very Lucky Boater in Milwaukee
 

Guy was probably Canadian... ;)

Re: Very Lucky Boater in Milwaukee
 

Lucky to be saved...