Chicago Crews Pluck Three Boaters from Lake Michigan

July 30, 2014

A storm caused a 19-foot sailboat to overturn, throwing three people into the lake off Chicago.

Source Chicago Tribune

July 30--Three men were rescued from Lake Michigan after the sailboat they were on overturned this evening as a storm with heavy winds passed through the area, officials said.

Chicago Police Marine Unit officers received a distress call at 7:50 p.m. from people saying that the sailboat had overturned, said Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Veejay Zala.

Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said a Chicago Fire Department marine rescue boat had positioned itself near the mouth of Monroe Harbor as dark storm clouds began forming over the lake.

Fire department officials were at the mouth of the harbor in anticipation of problems caused by the winds, which reached about 40 knots, as sailboats were racing to return to the harbor ahead of the storm.

Fire crews spotted the 19-foot-sailboat overturn near the mouth of the harbor and went out and pulled two 63-year-old men and a 50-year-old man from the water, said Langford.

The people were not injured and refused medical attention, said Zala.

A Chicago police boat was towing in the sailboat to Monroe Harbor, said Zala.

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