Four girls from Champlin, Minnesota, will have one unforgettable answer when asked what they did this summer.
On Saturday, August 16 the girls, ages 8 to 14, had paddled out to one of the smaller islands off of Black Beach in Silver Bay when they lost their paddles. With the sun going down and the lake already chilly, their parents called the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, kicking off a full-scale rescue.
Getting to the girls wasn’t easy. The water had become rough, so Silver Bay Marina Manager Mike Ettel helped deputies out using his old U.S. Coast Guard craft built for big waves. Deputies spotted the girls and told them to stay put. Meanwhile, weather kept the Minnesota Air Rescue Team grounded.
The U.S. Coast Guard sent a helicopter from Traverse City, Michigan, to get the girls off the island. While they waited, Lake County Rescue set up a rope relay to get blankets and food to the stranded juveniles, who were only in swimsuits and getting cold fast.
Finally, around 1 a.m. Sunday, the helicopter arrived and safely hoisted all four girls to a landing zone set up by the Silver Bay Fire Department, where their relieved parents were waiting.
Multiple agencies pitched in to make it happen: Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Rescue Squad, Silver Bay Police Department, Silver Bay Fire Department, Minnesota State Patrol, and US Coast Guard.
It was a reminder of just how important it is to be prepared when you’re out on Lake Superior. Life jackets, awareness of the weather, and a solid plan are a must.
For these girls, their summer adventure will be a story they won’t soon forget. A little paddle boarding trip turned into a real-life survival story on the big lake.
