News Release

Date: May 22, 2010
Contact: Ninth Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office (216) 310-2608

MANISTEE, Mich. –U.S. Coast Guard Station Manistee and a good Samaritan rescued six people from the charter fishing vessel “Kid-A-Gin” near the Manistee pierheads, Saturday, at approximately 5 a.m.

Unfortunately, a seventh person, the first mate of the charter vessel, required CPR and was later pronounced dead.

A Station Manistee 47-foot motor lifeboat (MLB) crew assisted the good Samaritan with removing the first mate and six passengers from the water after the charter vessel began taking on water.  The people donned life jackets and entered the water.

“All people onboard the vessel were able to put on lifejackets prior to entering the water,” said Chief Petty Officer John Tribfelner, Officer-in-Charge, Station Manistee. “It is important to always have lifejackets and to know where they are stored because there is often little to no time to search for a stowed lifejacket when an accident occurs.”

The motor lifeboat crew escorted the good Samaritan vessel back to the station where all recovered persons were transferred to Emergency Medical Services.  EMS transferred them to West Shore Medical Center.  The Kid-A-Gin’s first mate required CPR and unfortunately was pronounced dead.

The accident remains under investigation by Coast Guard and local officials.

Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan received a radio call from a good Samaritan stating that he heard people yelling in vicinity of the Manistee pierheads. Even though the visibility was very poor, the good Samaritan was able to get close enough to relay that there was a vessel taking on water and seven people were in the water.

The Coast Guard recommends everyone wear their life jacket at all times when on the water.

Additional information on life jackets (PFDs), can be found at http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/fedreqs/equ_pfd.htm.

For further information, contact the Sector Lake Michigan Public Affairs Officer at (414) 349-5109.