FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 12, 2011
Contact:
The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project
Dave Benjamin, Class Organizer & Media Relations
708-903-0166
2011 Great Lakes Drownings Reach 68
GREAT LAKES, USA – According to The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, in 2011 there have been 68 drownings in the Great Lakes. Rip currents can be a leading cause of death.
A crisis point
“The Great Lakes drowning situation continues to reach a crisis point,” said Bob Beaton, president Great Lakes Surfing Association. “Over the years we have had many life threatening incidents even on small-wave days. Once the August/September winds pick up, we really have our hands full out there.”
According to Beaton, water safety activists need to continue to develop lifesaving methods with the number one priority – getting flotation devices to the victims because it takes less than one minute for a swimmer in distress to become fully submerged.
What’s at the source of all theses drownings?
“There are several issues going on,” said Bob Pratt, Class Instructor for The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. “The three biggest factors are ignorance, bravado, and inattention by parents. Knowledge is power, and we need a huge education effort across several spheres.”
Pratt has been collecting drowning data since 2007 and formed “The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project to promote water safety and rip current awareness. Its fifth “Surfboard Rescue Techniques” class of 2011 will be hosted Sunday, September 18 in Whiting, IN.
Rip currents demonizing beaches
“Rip current drownings are demonizing the beaches of the Great Lakes,” said Larry Bordine, Beach Nut Surf Shop owner. “The Great Lakes are very dangerous to those who don't understand them. Understanding rip currents can make the lakes safer for everyone by either avoiding rips or knowing how to escape from them.”
“Of the 68 drownings, none were in Frankfort, Michigan where they never close the pier or beaches and encourage surfing,” Bordine added. “Each year there are several undocumented surfboard rescues. When a surfer rescues a swimmer it usually goes unnoticed, but if a swimmer drowns it makes the headlines.”
Surfers make a difference
“I know surfers make a difference in saving lives, and we can always learn more,” said Vince Deur, Surfrider Foundation Lake Michigan Chapter. “Every warm beach day when we have waves, my heart flutters because I feel like somebody is going to get into trouble.”
“Inexperienced swimmers may head towards rip currents because it's where waves seem the calmest,” added Deur. “If ever caught in a rip current, the natural instinct is to swim straight for the shore and tire yourself out. This could be tragic. Instead swim parallel to the shore.”
Deur has been surfing the Great Lakes for 30 years, is an expert at surviving potentially deadly rip currents, and is also with the Grand Haven Water Safety Task Force.
Education is imperative
“It’s imperative that more people around the Great Lakes gain knowledge and experience on drownings and rescues,” said Mike Killion, Great Lakes Surfer magazine founder and CEO. “It's sad that people may die on the same day we find joy and fun riding the Great Lakes.”
According to Killion, rip currents are a surfer’s friend and can be a swimmer’s nightmare. Rip currents can carry surfers out past the breaking waves to the line up without wasting much energy, while rip currents can exhaust inexperienced swimmers to death.
An unfortunate reality
“Drownings in the Great Lakes are an unfortunate reality that may never be completely eradicated,” said Ben McNeil, Wet Mitten Surf Shop co-owner. “The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project’s class presents a very creative and practical solution to bring down the number of drownings.”
“I’ve been in rip currents numerous times in different bodies of water,” added McNeil. “Being caught in a rip current is a scary experience that can be deadly if you don't know how to respond. From a very early age, I learned to respect the power of the water.”
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NEXT SURF RESCUE CLASS – Whiting, IN Sun., 9/18
MORE INFORMATION about the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project is at:
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH – List of Businesses and Organizations is at:
In the News – Overall Media Coverage:
2011Great Lakes Drownings
(68 as of 09/11/11)
(Info provided by the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project)
LAKE MICHIGAN:
1. Sat. 1/1 Michael Hilling 19-M Chicago Retrieving object
2. Wed. 2/2 Peter Davis 60-M Chicago Unknown
3. Mon. 2/14 Casey Palmer 23-M Milwaukee Walk on ice
4. Fri. 4/8 Sarah Goenne 61-M Chicago Fall from dock
5. Mon. 4/11 Jane Doe 13-F Kenosha Pier Jump
6. Sun. 5/22 Terrell Burton 19-M St. Joe Pier jump
7. Wed. 6/8 Jorge Martinez 55-M Chicago swimming
8. Sun. 6/19 John Doe 5-M Chicago Fall from pier
9. Fri. 6/29 Steven Link 42-M Sheboygan WI Step-off
10. Sat. 7/2 Timothy Judge 44-M Muskegon Scuba
11. Sun. 7/3 Tyon McNeil 5-M Covert Unknown
12. Mon. 7/4 Chris Szmajlo 29-M Chicago Boating
13. Fri. 7/15 Jane Doe ?-F Racine Unknown
14. Fri. 7/15 Mark Tuthill 47-M Portage Step off
15. Sun. 7/17 Marche Wilburn 6-F Gary Ind. Unknown
16. Sun. 7/17 Mark Morley 51-M Charlevoix Sailing
17. Sun. 7/17 Suzanne Bickel 41-F Charlevoix Sailing
18. Wed 7/27 Sharon Walsh 69-F Chicago unknown
19. Mon. 8/1 Javier Rivera 19-M Chicago Swimming
20. Tues. 8/2 Chandra Aravind 33-M Chicago Boating
21. Wed. 8/3 Delilah Hope Perez 13-F Pentwater rip current
22. Sun. 8/7 Martin Perez 8-M Mich. City rip current
23. Tues. 8/9 Daniel Reed 46-M Saugatuck rip current
24. Tues. 8/9 Bradley Stoner 22-M Saugatuck rip current
25. Wed. 8/10 Brett Vanetten 20-M Gary rip current
26. Thur. 8/18 Dolsey Squires 41-F Northport Beach possible rip current
27. Sat. 8/27 Willie Bogan 11-M Racine rip current
28. Sat. 8/27 Pawel Lesney 33-M Gary IN rip current
29. Sat. 8/27 Tristan Shambee 14-M Wilmette rip current
30. Sun. 8/28 Robert Klepacki 44-M Hagar rip current
31. Sun. 8/28 Rayan Sami Bokhari 22-M Porter rip current
32. Fri. 9/01 John Doe 30-M Kruse Park,MuskegonRip current
33. Sun. 9/04 Wojciech Sadowski 25-M New Buffalo Rip Current
34. Thur. 9/08 Phebe Hall 54-F Holland Unknown
LAKE ERIE
35. Sun. 5/22 Donald Morrow 55-M East Harbor Fall from dock (etoh)
36. Tues. 6/14 Susan Zatek 55-F Monroe Fishing
37. Tues. 6/28 Zachary Wadding 18-M Ripley N.Y. Rip Current
38. Tues. 6/28 Joselito Irizarry 30-M Edgewater Pier Jump
39. Sun. 7/3 Daniel Abel 53-M Kelley’s Isle Boating
40. Thur. 7/20 Herman Teichroeb 24-M Port Burwell Swimming
41. Tues. 7/26 Aiden Nicoll 7-M Presque Isle rip current
42. Wed. 7/27 John Doe 27-M Presque Isle Swimming from boat
43. Sat. 7/30 Paul Spanitz 37-M Grosse Ile unknown
44. Sun. 7/31 John Doe ??-M Kelleys Island Swimming from boat
45. Sun. 7/31 Darylle Phoeur 17-M Avon Lake Rip Current
46. Tues. 8/23 Antron Davis 25-M Cleveland unknown
LAKE SUPERIOR:
47. Tues. 6/7 Kevin Dammen 20-M Apostle Islands Kayaking
48. Mon. 7/11 Monty Lyons 42-M Duluth unknown
LAKE ONTARIO:
49. Tues. 1/4 Porter Simpson 7-M Niagara on the Lake Unknown
50. Sat. 2/6 John Doe ?-M Toronto Unknown
51. Sat. 6/25 John Doe 30’s-M Toronto Unknown
52. Sat. 7/2 Jane Doe 50’s-F Toronto Unknown
53. Sun. 7/17 Visu Vimalan 48-M Trenton Ont. Rip Current
54. Sun. 7/17 John Doe 35-M Toronto Swim from boat
55. Sun. 7/17 John Doe 29-M Wasaga Beach Ont. PWC
56. Tues. 7/19 Uche Chuks’ 13-F Hamilton Ont. swimming from dock
57. Tues. 7/26 Shaylean Richards 32-F Fair Haven rip current
58. Mon. 8/1 John Doe 49-M Sandbanks rip current
59. Sat. 8/20 John Doe 25-M Rochester unknown
60. Sun. 9/06 John Doe 14-M Orilla, Ont. Unknown
LAKE HURON:
61. Sat. 2/26 Robert Quesnelle 40-M Georgian Bay Snowmobiling
62. Mon. 4/18 James McComb II 20-M Port Austin Wash from pier
63. Sun. 7/24 Jason McLeod 20-M Port Franks Swimming
64. Sun. 7/24 Ragna Bersenas 67-F Georgian Bay Swimming
65. Sun. 7/31 Jan Raczychi 49-F Tobermory Scuba
66. Mon. 8/1 Donald Dorey 42-M Long Point unknown
67. Thurs. 8/11 Jason McDonough 36-M Sauble Beach unknown
LAKE ST. CLAIR:
68. Sat. 4/23 Hassen Randel 37-M Black Creek Fishing (boat)
One Lake Michigan case pending; He did drown and survived. As of 8/8/2011, he still might be in hospital in serious to critical condition. Not sure? Hope he’s recovering well.
69. Mon. 8-1 Mark Urness 53-M Frankfort rip current (CPR)
2010 Great Lakes Drownings
(74 as of 09/05/10)
Note: An asterisk identifies a “would be rescuer”.
LAKE MICHIGAN:
1. Tues 1/26 Mauricio Guaylias 27-M Chicago Unknown
2. Tues 3/2 Richard Wieting, 53-M Montrose (Chi.) Unknown
3. Sun 4/25 Ryan Lightfoot 28-M Petoskey Canoeing
4. Sun 4/25 Clifford Denay 27-M Petoskey Canoeing
5. Tues 4/18 John Doe -M Zion Unknown
6. Thurs 5/27 Katlyn LeClaire 13-F Escanaba step -off
7. Sat 5/29 Kelvin Motsinger 9-M Green Bay Unknown
8. Wed 6/09 Sofia Khan 9-F Holland WI kayaking
9. Wed 6/9 DeVale Thompson 16-M Whiting Pier jump
10. Sat 6/19 Vidyasagar Kapoor 30-M Chicago Unknown
11. Tues 6/22 Antoine Miller 21-M Waukegan swimming
12. Fri 6/25 Paris Bankhead 20-M Ill Beach St. Park swimming
13. Sun 7/4 Destiny Bahena 9-F Ind. Dunes rip current*
14. Sun 7/4 William Lott 25-M Silver Lk. St. Park rip current
15. Sun 7/11 Perla Solis 6-F Covert Park unknown
16. Fri 7/16 Jordy Graves 17-M South Haven rip current
17. Sat 7/17 James Savage 55-M Garfield Twp swimming
18. Fri 7/23 Mark Scheuer 49-M Grand Haven rip current*
19. Sun 7/25 Alfonso Quintero 26-M St. Joe rip current
20. Sun 7/25 Jeremiah Green 12-M Racine unknown
21. Sun 7/25 Lindsay Bilka 17-F Muskegon MI rip current
22. Mon 7/26 Kristopher Kane 19-M Sheboygan WI rip current
23. Thur 8/5 Richard Drake 67-M Covert Park rip current
24. Thur 8/5 Arther Walker 71-M Covert Park rip current
25. Fri 8/6 Patrick Reymann 63-M Harbor Springs kayaking
26. Sun 8/8 Cody Prentiss 15-M Calumet Park unknown
27. Wed 8/11 Roman Bravo 19-M Ill. Beach St Park unknown
28. Sat 8/14 Anthony Goldsmith 44-M Ludington MI rip current
29. Sun 8/15 Enrica Lorenz 27-F Muskegon MI rip current
30. Mon 8/16 Ethan Seitzer 10-M Berrien County rip current
31. Mon 8/16 Dolsey Lynn Squires 41-F Gr. Traverse Bay rip current
32. Thur 8/19 Richard Habermas 76-M Grand haven rip current
33. Sun 8/22 Lorenzo Greer 17-M Mich. City IN rip current
34. Sun 8/22 Scott Hoover 14-M Mich. City IN rip current
35. Fri 9/3 Timothy Horvath 26-M Lincoln Twp MI rip current
36. Mon 9/3 Anupam Bhattacharjee 26-M Ludington MI pier wash-off
37. Sun 9/13 Daniel Logsdon 23-M Warren Dunes unknown
38. Sat 9/18 Timothy Spiller 49-M Ludington fall from pier
LAKE ERIE
39. Mon 6/28 Andrew Mooney 21-M Long Beach ONT rip current
40. Tues 7/6 Louis Barba 16-M Sterling St. Park MI swimming
41. Thurs 7/8 Anthony Alexander 17-M Mentor OH rip current
42. Sun 7/11 Chris Alkerton 18-M Rock Point ONT swimming
43. Wed 7/14 Victor Arce Jr. 30-M Westfield NY swimming
44. Tues 7/27 Edwin Acosta 41-M Cleveland OH swim/boat
45. Sun 8/8 Nate Polosito 14-M Westfield OH rip current
46. Mon 8/16 Marco Butler 18-M Rock Point ONT rip current
47. Thur 8/19 John Doe 40s-M Erie PA unknown
48. Thur 8/19 John Doe 53-M Sherkston ONT rip current
49. Mon 8/23 Cynthia Riediger 53-F Pelee Island ONT rip current*
50. Mon 9/6 Harallamb Tasi 24-M Monroe MI swimming
51. Fri 9/11 Marshal Sharpe 58-M Hamilton ONT fishing
52. Sun 10/10 Mohammed Aljiboori 19-M Cleveland OH Unknown
LAKE SUPERIOR:
53. Sat 7/3 Marvin Charette 18-M Red Cliff Unknown
54. Wed 7/21 Rod Nilsestuen 62-M Picnic Rocks rip current
55. Thur 8/5 Elias Jenkins 15-M Presque Isle rip current
56. Thur 8/5 Alex Schuiteman 16-M Presque Isle rip current
57. Thur 8/5 Douglas Smith 50-M Grand Marais rip current
58. Thur 8/5 Eric Smith 16-M Grand Marais rip current
59. Fri 8/27 Devante Billups 18-M Picnic Rocks swimming
LAKE ONTARIO:
60. Mon 3/29 Jill Williams 85-F Sodus N.Y. Unknown
61. Fri 5/28 Edward McMillon 20-M Rochester NY Pier Jump
62. Wed 6/09 John Doe 23-M Pt. Dalhousie fall from pier
63. Fri 7/22 Justin Callahan 29-M Brighton ONT kayaking
64. Wed 7/28 Mehmet Yilmaz 22-M Irondequoit Bay swim/boat
65. Fri 8/6 Richard Woodall 77-M Ellisburg ONT fishing
66. Thur 9/2 Michael Steger 36-M Olcott NY fishing
LAKE HURON:
67. Sun 4/16 Lawrence Burack 61-M Saginaw Bay Fishing
68. Tues 6/29 Douglas Rucinskas 5-M Bayfield ONT rip current
69. Tues 6/29 Andrew Rucinskas 48-M Bayfield ONT rip current*
70. Sun 7/25 George Georgion Jr 16-M Lexington MI rip current
71. Tues 7/27 Joseph Lathan 18-M Conneaut OH pier jump
72. Sun 8/15 John Doe 10-M Georgan Bay canoeing
73. Mon 8/16 Oksana Milovanovic 16-F Kincardine ONT rip current
74. Thurs 8/19 John Doe 24-M Sauble Beach ONT unknown
