Staff Reports
Four young girls learned a hard lesson about water safety this weekend when their fun day turned into a nightmare on Lake Superior. The girls, aged 8 to 14, went paddleboarding near Silver Bay, Minnesota on Saturday. They lost their paddles and drifted to a small rocky island with no way to get back.
The children found themselves trapped on cold, jagged rocks in only their swimsuits as darkness fell. They huddled together for hours in dangerous conditions while waves crashed around them. These girls faced every parent’s worst fear – being lost and helpless in the wilderness.
Lake Superior is no joke, especially at night when temperatures drop and visibility disappears. The girls were stranded for hours without phones, food, or warm clothes. They could only pray that someone would find them before hypothermia set in.
Thankfully, their parents realized something was wrong and called 911 right away. These responsible parents did exactly what they should do in an emergency. They trusted our emergency responders to bring their babies home safely.
Local Lake County deputies tried their best to reach the girls by boat. But the water conditions were too dangerous for a safe rescue from the water. Sometimes even our brave local heroes need backup when Mother Nature gets nasty.
That’s when America’s finest stepped up to the plate. The U.S. Coast Guard launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Traverse City, Michigan in pitch-black conditions. These warriors flew through the night to save four scared little girls they had never met.
Using night vision and incredible skill, the Coast Guard crew lowered a rescue basket to pluck each girl to safety. Rescue swimmer Nicholas Mauricio dropped down to calm the frightened children and lift them into the helicopter. The girls were flown to a field near Duluth where their relieved parents waited.
This rescue shows why America has the best military and emergency responders in the world. Our Coast Guard heroes risked their lives in dangerous conditions to save these children. When Americans are in trouble, our brave men and women in uniform always answer the call.
