People rescued from waters of Lake Huron

Two incidents in Huron County kept emergency personnel busy this past weekend. In all, four people were rescued with no injuries, in two separate incidents.  In both cases, people became stranded in the waters of Lake Huron, needing assistance to get back to shore safely.

In the first incident Friday afternoon, an afternoon of fun for some Huron County kids turned into more excitement than they bargained for.

Deputies from the Huron County Sheriffs Department were called around 1:30 Friday afternoon after receiving a report that several kids that were on a large tube was drifting off shore because of strong winds and unable to return to shore.

The department’s Caseville Patrol Boat was down for maintenance according to Sheriff Kelly Hanson, so the department responded with their airboat to assist the children.

By the time helped arrived, winds had shifted and began blowing the tube back towards shore.

Sheriff Kelly Hanson said crews on the airboat made sure the children were back in safe waters with no injuries reported.

Late Sunday, two people were rescued from Lake Huron, just off shore of Port Hope.

According to emergency personnel involved in the rescue, the Harbor Beach fire rescue boat was used to make the rescue about a half mile south of Port Hope, and about 2 miles off shore, around 8 p.m. Sunday night.

Fire authorities said a Ruth man and a 5-year old were fishing, when their lines became entangled with a boat. The man, who was wearing a life-jacket, attempted to untangle the prop but fell into the water.

The man told authorities he could not get back into the 18-foot boat. The five-year old threw him a rope to keep the man with the boat.

The Harbor Beach fire department boat, along with a department member who was out on his personal boat, responded to the scene.

The man was assisted out of the water and they were escorted back to the Harbor Beach Marina.

The man was exhausted from struggling to stay afloat and near the boat, but did not sustain any injuries.