One man is dead and two others were hospitalized after their boat crashed into rocks and ran aground on Lake Erie early Saturday morning.
The U.S. Coast Guard responded at around 3 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, after receiving a report that a vessel had struck rocks near Starve Island, a small and uninhabited island in Ohio.
A rescue boat and helicopter were immediately launched, according to a news release from the Coast Guard’s Great Lakes District.
The boat crew reached the scene at approximately 3:40 a.m. and found three men in the water near the damaged vessel.
At around 4:20 a.m., rescuers pulled two of the men from the lake. One was unconscious, while the other had suffered major injuries, officials said.
A helicopter crew rescued the third man, who had no reported injuries.
All three were taken to local hospitals for treatment. One of the men later died from his injuries and was pronounced dead at 6:20 a.m.
Authorities have not publicly identified the man who died or the two others involved in the crash.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the individual who lost his life in this incident,” Coast Guard Sector Detroit Public Affairs Officer Lt. j.g. Samuel Rodriguez said.
“While we’re grateful our crews were able to bring two people to safety, this tragedy serves as an important reminder that conditions on the water can change quickly,” he continued.
Rodriguez urged boaters to take safety precautions whenever they head out onto the water.
“We encourage all mariners to wear a properly fitted life jacket, monitor weather and water conditions, and carry reliable communication equipment every time they get underway,” he said.
The Coast Guard also issued a marine safety broadcast warning nearby boaters that the damaged vessel remained stranded on the rocks.
