78 Drownings for 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                  October 16, 2011

Contact:

The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project

Dave Benjamin, Class Organizer & Media Relations

708-903-0166

dpaulben@hotmail.com

http://david-benjamin.blogspot.com/

www.facebook.com/dave.benjamin

Three missing in Lake Michigan Saturday = 78 Drownings for 2011

According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, Great Lakes drownings are beyond a crisis point.  There have been 78 for 2011 and 74 for 2010 – A two-year total of 152. 

Expect strong west winds for Monday and strong north winds for Wednesday and Thursday.

Jet Skier becomes 76^th Great Lakes Drowning in 2011

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/10/search_continues_for_lake_mich.html

HOLLAND, MI - a jet skier is missing since yesterday in Lake Michigan – His vehicle and trailer were located at a public launch site early this morning.  Witnesses report that the missing person was last seen entering Lake Michigan from the Holland Channel riding his blue Yamaha stand up Jet Ski to ride large waves with friends.  He was last seen wearing a black neoprene wet suit, a grey colored float jacket and black helmet.

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Kayaker becomes 77^th Drowning

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/sw_mich/2-rescued%2C-1-missing-in-Lake-Michigan-

NEW BUFFALO, MI – The Coast Guard and local first responders are searching the area near the New Buffalo Beach breakwall for a missing kayaker, 18-year-old Mitchell Fajman. Despite weather conditions that exceeded the operating limits of their 47-foot Motor Life Boat, a team of Coast Guardsmen from Michigan City, Indiana attempted to throw lines and liferings to Fajman when he reportedly slipped out of his lifejacket and was seen going under the water.

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Boater Becomes 78^th Drowning

http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/10/coast_guard_searches_for_boate.html

TRAVERSE CITY, MI – The Coast Guard was searching Grand Traverse Bay today for a missing boater last seen Saturday morning.  Jay Evens Farr, 59, of Northport was in a 10-foot dinghy at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, headed from the Leelanau Peninsula to get his sailboat at North Point Marina, Coast Guard officials said. It was not known whether he was wearing a lifejacket.  He was reported missing at 2 a.m. Sunday and the Coast Guard search began at about 8:30 a.m. with a helicopter and a 25-foot rescue boat.

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MORE INFORMATION about the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project is at:

http://david-benjamin.blogspot.com/2011/08/more-info-great-lakes-surf-rescue.html

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH – List of Businesses and Organizations is at:

http://david-benjamin.blogspot.com/2011/08/partnerships-great-lakes-surf-rescue.html

In the News – Overall Media Coverage:

http://david-benjamin.blogspot.com/2011/08/overall-media-coverage.html