Windsor

High School Rowers Rescued From Detroit River

Three rowers from a Michigan high school are safe after being rescued from the Detroit River.

The U.S. Coast Guard says the students, members of the Grosse Ile High School rowing team, had their boat overturned by the wake of passing freighters during a practice Saturday morning.

The crew team was practising while their coach monitored from a nearby jon boat.

The incident happened around 9am off the northern tip of Grosse Ile, approximately opposite the place where the towns of LaSalle and Amherstburg meet on the Ontario side.

The Coast Guard Station Belle Isle's 25-foot response boat was nearby on patrol for a rowing regatta race when they were alerted by fishermen that students had fallen into the water.

The response boat arrived on scene and rescued two boys who were in the water. The third, a girl, made her way to the coach's boat and was experiencing hypothermia. The remainder of the crew had already been helped to that vessel.

The Coast Guard called a local EMS crew and brought the rowers to shore, standing by until an ambulance arrived. The three students who fell in the water were taken to a Michigan hospital to be evaluated for hypothermia. All are expected to be okay.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Jake Mills, who was on board the rescue vessel, says it's important for people to be prepared when they go out on the water, especially when larger ships are present and can produce significant wakes.

"In this case, we were lucky we were already on scene and were able to get to them quickly because local fishermen alerted us," said Petty Officer Mills in a statement. "Even though it's sunny out, it's still very cold water. Always be prepared when you go out on the water. You never know what could happen."

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