Very Lucky Boater in Milwaukee
08-22-2005 | 06:26 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Registered
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: SE, Michigan
Very Lucky Boater in Milwaukee
18 miles would be a heck of a long swim 
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.
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.
08-22-2005 | 06:45 AM
#3
Charter Member #927
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,834
Likes: 2
From: IN
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.
08-22-2005 | 07:24 AM
#4
Official OSO boat whore
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,157
Likes: 0
From: Mequon, WI
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.
08-22-2005 | 05:28 PM
#6
Registered
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,390
Likes: 7
From: medellin colombia, pablo escobar's lil town
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.
08-22-2005 | 08:40 PM
#8
Platinum Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 15,270
Likes: 21
From: Burlington, VT
Re: Very Lucky Boater in Milwaukee
Originally Posted by dockrocker
18 miles offshore, alone, and no jacket on?!?!? I fully expect to hear about this guy as a future Darwin award winner...
