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Emergency responders rescued 12 people from the Detroit River last week after multiple sail boats capsized, agencies involved in the rescue say.
Representatives of the Detroit Fire Department, Detroit Police Department and other responders described what happened at a news conference Thursday.
The boats capsized in an area known as Scott’s Middle Ground during a severe storm on June 10.
The capsized boats sent 20 people into the water and triggered a multi-agency rescue effort.
“I think they were learning how to sail, and they had their instructor out there as well,” said Daniel Familant, a fire boat operator with the Detroit Fire Department. “A storm kicked up, and within seconds, all seven boats were capsized.
According to Detroit police, the weather turned quite fast, with the rainstorm beginning only shortly before the boats flipped over.
Daniel Familant is a fire boat operator with the Detroit Fire Department. He says the seven capsized boats are belived to have been a part of a local sailing class. (Ken Amlin/CBC)
“We’re dealing with five-foot waves at the time, and we get there and now notice three people in the water on the backside of their boats,” said Robert Douglas, a member of the Detroit Police’s emergency management team.
Familant said the agencies were aided in their rescue attempts by members of a local yacht club. He added that when it comes to sailing on the open water, safety — namely life jackets — should always be the number one priority.
“When you’re out there having a good time, you want to take this thing off,” Familant said. “But you should always absolutely wear your life jackets and be aware of your surroundings.”
The agencies were also assisted by local paramedic services on the shore of Belle Isle, in case any of those rescued needed urgent care, said James Kean of the Detroit Police Department.
According to the Detroit Fire Department, the people who were not rescued made their own way to shore.