2 people thrown into Lake Michigan when rented pontoon boat hits 3-foot wave

SOUTH HAVEN, MI — Two people were thrown into Lake Michigan and rescued after the rented pontoon boat they were on caught a wave.

The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol rescued the two people on Saturday, July 6, around 6 p.m., the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

The unit was stationed on Lake Michigan south of the pier heads and observed a rented pontoon boat carrying more than 10 people approach the pier. The pontoon boat hit a three-foot wave, leaving the front end of the boat underwater, police said.

Two people were immediately thrown from the pontoon and the boat almost capsized, spinning around in the water near the spot where the people had fallen in.

Officers were within 45 meters of the shore and immediately helped the passengers who had fallen overboard. They were not wearing life jackets, the sheriff’s office said.

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Officers pulled the two people on board and made sure everyone else was present. Officers secured the benches that had come loose from the pontoon and were floating in the water.

Police helped the pontoon boat return to the rental dock.

South Haven Police conducted a voluntary preliminary breathalyzer test on the boat operator, which was negative.

No injuries were reported, police said, praising officers’ quick actions.

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