Coast Guard searching for overdue fisherman on Lake Michigan

MH-60 Jayhawk, ©USCG (archive)

CLEVELAND — The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for an overdue fisherman on Lake Michigan near Kewaunee, Wisconsin, Thursday.

Missing is Mark Wautelet, 38 years old, approximately 6-feet tall, 270 pounds with brownish hair.

Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan received a notification from Kewaunee Dispatch at approximately 11:15 p.m. local, Wednesday, of a 35-foot pleasure craft with one person on board who had departed Kewaunee Marina at 5 p.m., local, on Wednesday and was expected back by 9:30 p.m., local.

Last known cellular use was at 5:30 p.m., local.

Air Station Traverse City launched a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and arrived on scene at 1:50 a.m., local, and located the vessel beached on shore with no persons onboard. Kewaunee Sheriff's Department responded and confirmed there were no people on board and that the vessel was rigged for fishing and the engines were still in the clutched ahead position.

Due to heavy fog on the west side of Lake Michigan, the MH-60 was not able to land to refuel. The MH-60 departed the area at approximately 3:20 a.m., local, to refuel at Traverse City, Michigan.

Once the fog lifts, an MH-60 from Air Facility Waukegan is scheduled to arrive on scene at approximately 9 a.m., local, to continue searching.

More information will be released as it becomes available.

-USCG-

Coast Guard searching for overdue fisherman on Lake Michigan

MH-60 Jayhawk, ©USCG (archive)

CLEVELAND — The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for an overdue fisherman on Lake Michigan near Kewaunee, Wisconsin, Thursday.

Missing is Mark Wautelet, in his 60s, approximately 6-feet tall, 270 pounds with brownish hair.

Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan received a notification from Kewaunee Dispatch at approximately 11:15 p.m. local, Wednesday, of a 35-foot pleasure craft with one person on board who had departed Kewaunee Marina at 5 p.m., local, on Wednesday and was expected back by 9:30 p.m., local.

Last known cellular use was at 5:30 p.m., local.

Air Station Traverse City launched a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and arrived on scene at 1:50 a.m., local, and located the vessel beached on shore with no persons onboard. Kewaunee Sheriff's Department responded and confirmed there were no people on board and that the vessel was rigged for fishing and the engines were still in the clutched ahead position.

Due to heavy fog on the west side of Lake Michigan, the MH-60 was not able to land to refuel. The MH-60 departed the area at approximately 3:20 a.m., local, to refuel at Traverse City, Michigan.

Once the fog lifts, an MH-60 from Air Facility Waukegan is scheduled to arrive on scene at approximately 9 a.m., local, to continue searching.

More information will be released as it becomes available.

-USCG-

Coast Guard helicopter crew helps rescue 5-year-old boy in Sleeping Bear Dunes

Photos by Master Chief Petty Officer Alan Haraf, U.S. Coast Guard District 9

First responders from Glen Lake Fire Department in Upper Michigan rescue a 5-year-old boy in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore during a multi-agency search, June 29, 2018. A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City located the boy after being requested to search from the air. (U.S. Coast Guard photos by Air Station Traverse City)

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — The Coast Guard assisted local agencies in finding a 5-year-old boy who went missing in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Friday.

The name of the boy is not being released by the Coast Guard.

A watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan command center in Milwaukee received a request at about 6:30 p.m. local time from the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center asking for air assistance in helping the Sleeping Bear Dunes Park Rangers locate a 5-year-old boy. The boy had been reported missing in the park for more than an hour.

The watchstander then coordinated with the Coast Guard’s District Nine command center who requested a crew from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City to launch aboard an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter.

The aircrew launched about 8:30 p.m. EDT and arrived overhead at the park within ten minutes to commence searching. At about 9:15 p.m., the helicopter crew located the missing boy. A rescue swimmer was lowered to remain with him until first responders from the Glen Lake Fire Department could be directed to the location by the helicopter pilots. Members of the fire department then reunited the boy with his parents. He was listed in good condition.

In addition to the Coast Guard, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Park Rangers and the Glen Lake Fire Department, the Leelanau County Sheriff’s Department was also involved in the search.

-USCG-