Injured man rescued from Lake Erie
Coast Guard aids injured snowmobile rider.
2/16/2014CURTICE, Ohio — An injured snowmobile operator was rescued from Lake Erie ice off Crane Creek State Park in Ottawa County today by Coast Guard members, an Ottawa County sheriff's deputy, and Jerusalem Township authorities.
Authorities said the man, who was not identified, called for aid around 10:30 a.m., telling the Coast Guard he hurt his back and was about a mile off shore.
An Ottawa County sheriff's deputy walked out to the ice to assist the man and gave Coast Guard personnel from the Marblehead station their location.
A Coast Guard ice rescue team aboard an airboat arrived on scene at 11:37 a.m.
Jerusalem Township fire department personnel secured the injured man to a backboard and the Coast Guard inflated an ice-rescue craft to transport him, using the man's snowmobile to tow the inflatable device.
A Jerusalem Township fire dispatcher said Lucas County EMS met the rescue group at Magee Marsh beach to take the man to Mercy St. Charles Hospital in Oregon. The dispatcher said the man suffered a back injury, although the cause of the injury was not released.
“With efficient and effective teamwork among all first responders we were able to assist an injured man who was in a lot of pain,” Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Mattei, coxswain of the airboat and leader of the ice rescue team, said in a statement.