Benjamin said because the physical struggle often takes place under water, as the victims legs and arms climb a ladder or paw at the water, onlookers are often unaware the individual is in trouble. 3. Granted, some fell from shore rather than a boat. And it doesnt matter how good a swimmer believes his or her ability is 66% of all drowning victims were good swimmers, Benjamin said. Its the only place they could cool off, and we should have had lifeguards here. In fact, it can happen to anyone and it can happen quickly. MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) - A Marquette woman has been sentenced to prison for a fatal crash that happened in October 2020. According to the GLSRP, on Sunday, July 14, 2019 a 33-year-old mother drowned in Lake Ontario trying to rescue her six-year-old son who got carried away from shore while floating on an inflatable unicorn. This was the deadliest Labor Day Weekend since we started tracking statistics in 2010, said Dave Benjamin, executive director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. 10/31/2018 UP Matters Stay off piers, breakwaters during high winds, storms, wave action Water Dangers. 07/17/2018 WNDU Facebook Live Beach Safety, 07/17/2018 WNDU How to know if its safe to swim in Lake Michigan, 07/17/2018 Holland Sentinel Second man drowns in Allegan County in two days. The presentation will include information about drowning statistics; the signs of drowning; survival strategies, including flip, float, follow; how, why and where dangerous currents occur; basic water rescue; and basic water resuscitation. Malik was to turn 15 next week. Weve worked very closely with Northern Michigan University in order to make sure the information gets out to people, especially those new to the area, about the dangers of the lake, the dangers of certain areas within the city limits where people swim, said Marquette City Manager Mike Angeli. The most recent Lake Michigan drowning involved 18-year-old Daniel McCarthy of Baldwin, who got caught in a current along with eight other swimmers, but never made it to shore. 07/31/2017 The Journal Times Drowned teens life goal was to help people Water Safety Tips: Only one third of drownings that occur are due to dangerous currents, according to Dave Benjamin Executive Director of Public Relations for the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, a non-profit based in Illinois that educates school children about the dangers of water. The weight of all five in the 13 ft. kayak was 442 pounds, just under its 500-poundcapacity. Family/Friends confirmed Herrons BODY WAS RECOVERED 12 MILES OFF SHOREHAM, MI on 09/05/2022when a sailboat captain found the body and contacted authorities at 11:35 a.m. 08/02/2022 MILWAUKEE near the Summerfest grounds around 8 p.m. Martez Holmes M-32, of Milwaukee One relative said he was with friends on a pontoon boat to watch fireworks when he went into the water in the lagoon at Lakeshore State Park, which is adjacent to the Summerfest grounds. It's worth noting that just six drownings in Lake Michigan this year happened on red flag days or during severe weather conditions; two of the deaths occurred in Michigan (the . 05/17/2017 PR Memorial Water Safety Presentation or 2015 Lake Michigan Drowning Victim as Lake Michigan drownings are up 57% over 2016. The advocacy group reported 48 drownings in Lake Michigan in 2019, two of them in Michigan City and seven total in northwest Indiana, according to The Times of Northwest Indiana. As part of National Water Safety Month in May, the City of Michigan City and Michigan City Area Schools have collated together in an effort to prevent water emergencies. Beginning May 15, 2017, Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project (GLSRP) will be educating our youth on the necessity of Lakefront Safety. Hawke said it would be great to have the funds to pay for lifeguards. 06/05/2017 Lakeshore Public Radio Dont become another drowning statistic. Two of the boys were Joshua Torres, 10, of Chicago, and Malik Freeman, 14, of Aurora, who were swimming in restricted areas at the same Indiana Dunes State Park beach. All rights . Experts say too often swimmers overestimate their abilities and underestimate dangerous conditions. Date of the Accident: 08/30/2022. They believe its the best approach to spreading information quickly, having completed more than 450 presentations in seven of the eight Great Lakes states. Weve made a pretty good effort to try and deal with it, Angeli added. After searching more than 2,500 miles of the bottom of Lake Superior, the Atlanta a 172-foot schooner-barge that sank during a terrible storm has been found, preserved in the icy water just as it was when it went down more than 130 years ago. The week of education programs was part of a larger series of initiatives to improve safety at the lakefront, including larger warning signs, throw bags for police squad cars and the installation of life ring kiosks at areas where there are dangerous currents, including near the mouth of the Pike River and at the North Pier. 08/26/2019 NBC 5 Chicago Lake Michigan Safety Warning Strong winds and dangerous waves continued to kick up on Chicagos lakefront Monday after a weekend in which two people died in drownings. Lake Superior Fun Facts. But the experience has somehow changed him. 04/12/2018 ABC 57 Open forum to discuss future of New Buffalo lifeguards to be held Thursday. 09/05/2017 Associated Press Water Safety Group Finds Fewer Lake Michigan Drownings. 04/24/2018 Southend Tribune New Buffalo votes to keep lifeguards this summer If you remove lifeguards, when seconds count help is going to be minutes away, Benjamin said. Benjamin wants the Flip, Float and Follow slogan to become as well known to people as the Stop, Drop and Roll motto taught to children during fire safety. 06/06/2017 MLIVE 5 Lake Michigan beaches could have dangerous conditions today There have been 20 drownings in the Great Lakes already this year, including 12 deaths in Lake Michigan, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project tracker. We dont advocate pier jumping, but we know people will do it. Another drowning in September off of Lake Eries Turtle Island happened along the Michigan-Ohio border. The Michigan City Fire Department is always concerned about the safety of our personnel and the safety of the public, stated Fire Chief Randy Novak. Hence, more drownings. NEW! In a statement, a family spokesperson explained Salvino talked to a friend via FaceTime 11:59 p.m. and said that he was walking to his apartment in the 800 block of West Lill Avenue and was about a half-mile away. Ahmad Z. Adl, 34, was part of a group of five people who were camping at Harrington Beach State Park in Ozaukee County on Aug. 20 when they decided to go swimming about 1 p.m. A search was launched for Adl when he didnt return to shore. Here are some resources to help you get started. Malewitz says there is not a government source for those numbers. Wasserman said there have not been lifeguards at McKinley Beach for more than a decade. 08/31/2017 ABC 10 & 13 August Was Deadliest Month So Far on Lake Superior in 2017 Five people drowned in Lake Superior in August, with four drownings in a 2-week span. If you have a kid, or pretty much anyone and you have them at the beach, put them in a life jacket. Knowing the statistics helps look for who is more likely to get into trouble. There were slightly fewer deaths on Lake Erie and no change in the number of deaths on Lake Superior. Consider how often do you play in fire? 07/31/2019 Lakeshore Public Radio All Things Considered Regionally Speaking Today: We talk with Dave Benjamin of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project about the alarming number of drownings in Lake Michigan this year although he says its been worse in the past. 2. Swintek said boats responding from Grand Haven run in the range of $3,000 to $4,800 per hour, depending on the vessel, its equipment and how much fuel it burns. The week included presentations about water safety by David Benjamin from the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project at Unified high schools and middle schools. Park Rangers found nine-year old Kyra the next morning on the shore of Michigan Island. Last year was the first season the park had lifeguards on both sides of the creek for the entire week. Knowing how to swim reduces your fear of water. To make the Pure Michigan campaign so effective, the state piled money into TV ads, billboards and radio spots. This year, 48 people have drowned in the Great Lakes. To him, it speaks to a larger need for overall water safety education. We dont want it to happen on our watch. It hasnt stopped visitors from swimming there this spring. 07/17/2019 WWMT PETITION: BRING BACK LIFEGUARDS SOUTH HAVEN, MI The drowning of a 13-year-old in South Haven sparks public cry for the return of lifeguards on South Haven beaches. On Thursday morning, Glaves boat, a white-colored 21-foot Striper with a black-colored canopy, was found by a passerby on the other side of Lake Erie along a rocky stretch of shore in Madison Township, Ohio. According to the timeline, it takes less than a minute of struggling in the water for a drowning person to submerge. A water safety school curriculum needs to be mandated and funded in the Great Lakes region as well as nationwide. 08/13/2017 WBBMs At Issue: Drowning & Water Safety Every year dozens of people will drown while swimming in Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes preventable deaths in most cases. Largest freshwater lake in the world, one inch of surface water is equal to 553 billion gallons. 07/29/2019 MIX 95.7 Dangerous conditions on Lake Michigan expected again Monday. 03/16/2017 Record Eagle Great Lakes Surf Rescue teaches safety to water-loving residents If stop, drop and roll can be accepted parts of childhood education, why not flip, float and follow? asks the founder and executive director of Great Lakes Surf Rescue. Lake Michigan is only the third largest Great Lake but it is surrounded by densely populated cities, like Chicago. 06/21/2017 NBC 5 Chicago New Floating Water Park Emphasizes Safety in Indiana Lake Michigans first floating water park will open in Whiting, IN this weekend, but theres more than just fun to be had at the attraction, as educating the public about water safety is at the top of the agenda. Those interested in sharing their opinion about the future of Holland State Park will have an opportunity in an upcoming virtual meeting. 04/23/2018 WNDU New Buffalo beach will keep lifeguards Mayor Lou ODonnell IV who said he thought the city was rushed into the idea of going guard less, and that the city should step back and look at this more carefully.After another summer of the status quo, the mayor said the subject should be revisited in the fall. 47.478089N 90.999858W. Seconds count. 05/26/2020 CBS 58 Staying Safe on Lake Michigan As Temps Warm With warm weather finally here, many folks may flock to the beach to stay cool over the coming months. Of the 2018 drownings, 117 were in Lake Michigan, including six in Northwest Indiana and two in Michigan City. The updated stats are 612 Great Lakes Drownings since 2010.]. Last year there were 46 drownings in Lake Michigan plus 6 listed in Critical Condition. 04/02/2020 NDPA Lifesaver of the Year Award Acceptance Speech, 01/13/2020 Up North Live Army Corps of Engineers: High water levels cause increase in Great Lakes hazards. This year already reports 5 deaths, again the majority on Lake Michigan. Pratt and Dave Benjamin, GLSRP executive director, were tasked with leading over a dozen lifeguards, mostly teenagers, in an open water surf lifeguard training session Tuesday afternoon. 201712/13/2017 Michigan State University Extension, Michigan Sea Grant Great Lakes waves can make lake viewing dangerous Dont get swept away this winter while sightseeing near the Great Lakes. Date Range. Crews recovered his body around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday at Ludington State Park. I appreciate the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project for coming to MCAS, because the more kids who are exposed to this information, the fewer water-related accidents well have.. No one should go swimming there, he said. Maybe they sailed into a deck-tilting squall, or were wrapped in fog amid shipping lanes with 1,000-foot freighters, or hoped that a barely submerged . 07/02/2020 Chicago Tribune Beachgoers, park officials sound alarm for Lake Michigan safety: The majority of our drownings could be prevented. 07/05/2018 Kenosha News Another tragedy too easily avoided Its happened again someone has drowned in Lake Michigan. A viral post claimed that Lake Superior "has three quadrillion gallons of COLD water," which was "so cold, a dead body will never float to the surface, because the water is never warm enough to grow the bacteria needed to cause a body to float.". Her efforts, which include water safety classes for Madison and Ashtabula students in partnership with the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, earned her the honor as the Great Lakes Water Safety Consortium 2016 Water Safety Superhero of the Year. Contact. 08/19/2018 ABC 7 3 boys, ages 10 to 14, die after being pulled from Lake Michigan at Indiana, Waukegan beaches Friday evening a 14-year-old boy recovered from the water near Waukegan died Sunday. Rip currents are very serious and can pull you away from the beach., 06/30/2020 Northwest Indiana Times Practicing beach safety: Experts weigh in on how to protect yourself, kids during summer. 10/18/2018 Detroit News Tourists, residents alike hit by Mich. water deaths, 10/14/2018 The Record Eagle DANGEROUS WATERS Families, advocates deal with aftermath of death in or near water. I wouldnt venture out more than 150 feet in the kayak, Schmidt commented. Water levels are higher, beaches are thinner and more people will be converging at beaches for outdoor recreation. So, in case something does happen, and they get caught up in a current, thats just extra protection for them just in case, said Petty Officer Dennis Whartnaby with the Sturgeon Bay Coast Guard. Its not like the ocean where there is a lull in the wave. Salvino was last seen late Saturday night after leaving a party in Lincoln Park in the 2400 block of North Geneva Terrace, last making contact with a friend through FaceTime while walking back to his apartment at around 12:15 a.m. Eric Przykuta, a 43-year-old seventh-grade science teacher at Lancaster Middle School, died in an evening accident when the fishing boat he was riding in with two other men struck the breakwall near the Small Boat Harbor. 07/28/2017 WLS 7 Life threatening waves, rip currents lead to swim bans The latest statistics from the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project report 49 drownings in the Great Lakes so far this year. Our son passed away here almost two years ago, and theyre installing a plaque in his memory along with those safety changes., He was out here at the beach with some friends and unfortunately came under the water and he didnt come up, said James. of Lake Elmo, MN and Wascott, WI died January 4, 2023, in Regions Hospital in St . The group has tracked 728 such drownings since it started gathering the data in 2010. What alarmed him most after reading the report was the type of watercraft used by the family. and windy days. 09/04/2018 Northwest Indiana Times Organization says recent Labor Day weekend deadliest for drownings since 2010 This was the deadliest Labor Day weekend since the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project began tracking drowning statistics in 2010, the organizations director said. Knowing how to swim doesnt mean you wont drown, Benjamin said. CHICAGO unreported SCUBA death off the shipwreck of the Wells Burt, part of a charter diver operation. Corporate Party Entertainment Ideas Denver Colorado 01/13/2020. 3. [NOTE: 2018 stats are currently under review for final confirmation], 740 Great Lakes Drownings since 2010 (+/-). 08/06/2018 UpNorthLive Safety tips for swimming in the Great Lakes It blows my mind that water safety curriculum isnt in the state, statewide, because youre always near a body of water, said Dave Benjamin, the executive director of The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. Drowning Data. They say it is a dangerous combination. Add to that the amount of trees and other debris that has washed into the Great Lakes with the high water and becoming another hazard for boaters and swimmers alike, he said. Sometime before 4p.m. the weather turned, the water became rocky and the kayak began to take on water. He pointed out at Tuesdays city council meeting they had trained rescue professionals in the water trying to find Young, but it was so bad that some of them got into trouble. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project began keeping a record of the deaths in Lake Michigan ever since 2010 and by 2020 more deaths occurred than any other year. 04/04/2019 Kenosha News Safety Around Water coalition plans May event. 07/09/2020 Windsor Star UWindsor prof worries more beach goers could lead to more drownings. Looking at other beach locations: life rings are credited with saving lives in Grand Haven, Holland and St. Joseph in Michigan, and Gary and Michigan City in Indiana, according to the non-profit Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. For more information on water and pier safety, the Great Lakes Beach & Pier Safety Task Forces video, Respect the Power, is a great resource. 07/28/2017 Detroit Free Press 5 teens rescued from Lake Michigan, 3 hospitalized This year, 49 people have drowned in the Great Lakes, at least 22 of them in Lake Michigan, where hidden rip currents are known to pull people away from beach areas, causing them to panic. There have been 892 drownings in the Great Lakes since 2010, with the majority occurring in Lake Michigan, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. died despite efforts to revive him the National weather service says waves could be as high as 6 feet today through the evening great lakes Surf Rescue Project says more than 30 people have down like michigan illinois and other States, 08/22/2019 CBS 2 Chicago 34 Drownings In Lake Michigan So Far This Year, Advocacy Group Says, 08/20/2019 Detroit Free Press Warren teen falls in Lake Huron at Port Austin, nearly drowns, 08/06/2019 WTMJ 4 Search for missing swimmer changed to recovery effort, 08/06/2019 MLIVE Search continues for teen who went missing in Lake Michigan, 08/06/2019 MLIVE South Haven residents push for lifeguards after rash of Lake Michigan drownings, 08/06/2019 Holland Sentinel Report shows Lake Michigan drownings up 87 percent, 08/05/2019 CBS 3 WWMT UPDATED South Haven public brings lifeguard concerns to city council, 08/05/2019 CBS 3 WWMT South Haven public scheduled to bring lifeguard concerns to city council, 08/05/2019 CBC 2019 on track for record number of Great Lakes drownings. The Coast Guard recommends you play it safe. It may mean theres high wind or high waves or theres no lifeguard on duty.. Here are ways to stay safe. The nonprofit issued a warning that walking on shelf ice is extremely dangerous after it received reports of two groups of people walking on shelf ice near Garys shoreline last weekend. We take it very seriously.. It's made Thunder Bay the highest per capita opioid death rate in Ontario. Hooffstetter was a Deans List student majoring in criminology and psychology. Advance registration is required for the meeting. During offshore winds, the water at the shoreline can be deceptively calm, but the farther one gets from shore, the winds become stronger and the water can become choppy. Please join us in enjoying them with care. She projected the citys cash balance at the end of the year will be just over $6 million; and for a point of reference, noted it was just over $12 million on Jan. 1. On Saturday, 08/20/2022, a recreational boater in the Playpen spotted a mans body floating in Lake Michigan as the Chicago Air and Water Show wrapped up Saturday. Where. He had a bad wipe out, fell on his back and had the wind knocked out of him. Ingrid Torfa lives between two worlds. In any water emergency, the Great Lakes Surf and Rescue Project advocates a flip, float, follow strategy. Its likely been several months since most people have been to the beach, so swimming endurance may be low and cold water will incapacitate swimming ability. And the worst part of this weekend are the people on social media abusing the stigma of drowning and attacking the victims and their family members.. [*Unfortunately there were some misquoted or misunderstood information during the interview. View local obituaries in montana. A capsized catamaran-style boat in was spotted in Lake Michigan near East Chicago shortly after 10:30 a.m. Monday. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in five people who die from drowning in the United States are children age 14 and younger. Last year in 2020, there was a total of 108 Great Lakes drownings in 2021 reported. However, he soon got into trouble as well. Southend: The Place Where I Go Surfing was screened Sept. 14 at The Towle Theater in Hammond and will be screened again Sept. 22 at Fire and Water At Washington Park in Michigan City. 09/06/2018 WGN 720 AM Water Safety with Dave Benjamin Tonight on The Patti Vasquez Show with Andrea Darlas: To discuss water safety and to share some tips to stay safe we welcome Dave Benjamin (Director of Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, Halle Quezada, creator of the Chicago Alliance for Waterfront Safety, and John Kocher, co-founder of the Matthew Kocher Foundation). "It was a moderately rough night," said Kravitz, who was on the water aboard the 25-foot . Since they began, theyve tracked more than 750 deaths. For 2016, we had almost the highest number of fatalities and a lot of those came from paddle boarders or kayakers.. On top of all that, she trains day and night to Wear life jackets. Add the city and county resources and you can run almost $500,000 a day for a single body recovery.. A yellow flag means be cautious because weather conditions are unpredictable or bacteria levels in the water are above the threshold deemed safe by the Environmental Protection Agency. Invest in lake safety for summer With Lake Michigan temperatures reaching into the 70s, were happy to share Hollands beaches with tourists who come to soak up the West Michigan sun. Menu. The co-founder of Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, a nonprofit that works to cut the number of Great Lakes drownings through training and education, Dave Benjamin is asking beach goers to take certain precautions due to the higher water levels. Thats why you need a survival strategy. at 8:15 p.m., one operator was thrown into the water. There were 117 Great Lakes drownings in 2018, he said, making it the deadliest year since the GLSRP began tracking such deaths in 2010. We believe drowning is preventable and survivable.. So now, there is signage warning people about the rip currents. Never. There have been 20 drownings in the Great Lakes so far this year. The spot at East 72nd Street is near where the Gordon Park Fishing Area is located. 09/24/2017 Holland Sentinel A much better summer: Drownings down from 2016 Five people died in Ottawa County waters last year. A throw ring, a rope and a hook, I would think, is about $50, said Benjamin, who has been involved in the Kenosha YMCAs project to promote water safety in the schools. The devices will be accessible to the the public in the event of an emergency. 2023 FOX Television Stations, from SUN 9:00 AM CST until MON 12:00 PM CST, Clay County, Norman County, Wilkin County, Gov. There are two rings at the lifeguard station, but thats set back from the water, Benjamin noted. 07/27/2019 The Sandusky Register How can Nickel Plate be safer? A group that promotes swimming safety says it is a good time to brush on some common sense rules. The beach had a red flag Sunday morning because 3-4 feet waves were expected, and swimming was not advised. We didnt and three people have died. 06/06/2017 ABC 7 Lake Michigan beach hazard warning, swim advisory in effect Tuesday With a possibility of a closure on Wednesday, or maybe yellow flags on Wednesday, which means people allowed in the water up to a certain depth, said Nick Kalwinski, Whihala Beach supervisor. Yet theres so little education regarding water safety, and we live on the shores of one of the most beautiful lakes in the country., Erin Breen, a kindergarten teacher at Marsh Elementary School, said, Living in a beach community, our kids need this training. Really rough to see these boats out here and relive what we did five years ago, Foster said. 06/11/2020 WNDU TV 16 Facebook Live GLSRP and WNDU TV News water safety segment. 07/28/2020 Traverse City Record Eagle Torch Lake death adds to list of water-related fatalities 07/26/2020 Richard Church, M-57, 07/27/2020 WTTW 11 CHICAGO TONIGHT With Beaches Closed, Experts Warn of Increased Risk for Drowning. Benjamin said education inside schools is the best and most cost efficient way to try to prevent the number of drownings. Find an Obituary. So far this year there have been five Great Lakes drownings, three of them in Lake Michigan.