Boaters on western Lake Erie are being asked to keep an eye out for a person in the water, or a child alone on a vessel.
That follows reports of a possible distress call that the US Coast Guard in Detroit received shortly after 10:30am Monday.
The US Coast Guard Sector Detroit received a transmission on VHF Channel 16, the distress frequency, that was picked up by radio towers along Lake Erie. The transmission, which sounds as though it came from a child, lasted only five seconds and said, "My papa fell in the water. I need help."
There was no further transmission and when the Coast Guard was unable to contact the vessel, dispatched a helicopter from Air Station Detroit, along with a response boat from the station at Marblehead, Ohio. The Coast Guard requested a RCAF C-130 fixed-wing aircraft, which left the Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton, Ont.
The transmission did not last long enough to allow the Coast Guard to zero in on the area of Lake Erie where any trouble may have occurred.
The search was suspended around 8pm Monday after 10 hours of searching didn't turn up any results.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the US Coast Guard Sector Detroit at (313) 568-9560 or via radio at VHF Channel 16.