The South Milwaukee Fire Department responded to two calls of distressed boaters on Sunday. Both situations had happy endings. Here is the email from Acting Chief Joe Knitter:
Yesterday, the SMFD Rescue boat was called upon twice to respond to reports of distressed boaters. The first call came in from the boater himself who reported that he was without power, approx., 300 yards off Grant Park Beach, East of the pavilion. On the arrival of our rescue boat, the distressed boat was found anchored with two adult passengers on-board, unable to return to Bender Park where they had launched from. While heading North, the boater heard a loud noise coming from his motor before it died and stranded him without power. The occupants remained on-board during the tow into the SM Yacht Club.
While entering the harbor during this tow operation, the US Coast Guard requested assistance in the area of Bender Park for another disabled boat. The Coast Guard stated they were busy in Milwaukee and asked for our assistance with a 17′ Glastron boat that had lost power with two adults and three children on-board. While en route, SMFD contacted the disabled boater via cell phone with a number that the Coast Guard had provided and learned that they were under tow from another boat and were just entering Bender Park. The SMFD confirmed that they were safely attended to and returned to the SMYC.
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