Coast Guard searches for man overboard in Lake Erie

7/16/2006

WEST SISTER ISLAND, Ohio - A man who was fishing west of West Sister Island fell overboard yesterday, and U.S. Coast Guard crews were searching for him last night, authorities said.

The man, whose identity was not released, apparently fell overboard about 7:40 p.m. roughly 300 yards west of the island in Lake Erie, said PO Joseph Jackson with the U.S. Coast Guard station in Detroit.

Two other men in the boat went into the water to search for the man, could not find him, and went back to shore for help, Petty Officer Jackson said.

A helicopter from the Coast Guard's Detroit station and a boat from the Toledo station were searching for the man late last night along with help from a local towing company and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Petty Officer Jackson said.

The Coast Guard planned to deploy its dive team from Toledo at dawn if the man's body was not recovered, he said.