Boaters lose engine amid high winds, big waves

OPP NEWS RELEASE

************************* Close call for boaters

Vessel caught in high winds

LAIRD TWP, ON - On Saturday, October 15, 2011, at 10:20 a.m., Sault Ste. Marie OPP received a call from a resident near Finn’s Bay Road of a vessel that appeared to be in distress.

The vessel appeared to be having engine troubles and the occupants were attempting to paddle but were unable due to high winds and waves.

Weather conditions at the time of the call were 60 km/hr winds from the northwest with warnings of 90 km/hr gusts.

The Sault Ste. Marie OPP Marine Unit was deployed.

The vessel was located in American waters on Sugar Island.

The two occupants of the vessel were not injured.

The two males had left earlier that morning to go duck hunting and encountered engine trouble.

They had attempted to paddle but the winds were too strong and drifted to the west side of East Neebish Island where another vessel towed them back to their dock on Sugar Island.

OPP want to remind boaters to return to shore immediately when unsettled weather approaches and to monitor local weather channels before heading out.

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