CLEVELAND — The U.S. Coast Guard reports at least 47 people were rescued on the Great Lakes over the Fourth of July weekend. At least a dozen of the rescues were made on Lake Erie.
"A lot of boaters were out over the weekend; the weather wasn't the best, and people found themselves needing our help," Coast Guard spokesperson Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher Yaw said.
The USCG rescued five people clinging to a cooler off the coast of Ashtabula on Saturday. Following the rescue, the agency then responded to an incident near the Perry Nuclear Power Plant.
In that incident, three people were rescued, but one was pronounced dead at the hospital. A fifth person remains missing.
The Coast Guard searched for several hours over the weekend before suspending their efforts. The search has now been taken over by local law enforcement agencies and members of the public.
"In the case of the five people that were rescued (in Ashtabula), they had a way to contact us, and they were wearing life jackets," Yaw told 3News, emphasizing the need for boaters to always wear life jackets.
The Sheffield Lake Fire Department also reported a water rescue involving two people. Both were pulled from the water safely.
"That weekend was pretty rough," firefighter Dan Forror said.
The department is utilizing a newly installed jet ski system, which Lieutenant Chad Bowman says helps them save several minutes during water rescues.
"The water and the weather can take a sudden turn," he explained, also emphasizing the need for boaters to stay aware of conditions and have an emergency plan in place if the boat were to crash or capsize.