Archive image: A Coast Guard Air Station Detroit MH-65E Dolphin helicopter aircrew practices formation flying during the National Cherry Festival Air Show.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher Yaw.
CLEVELAND — A Coast Guard MH-65E Dolphin helicopter aircrew and a Coast Guard Response Boat-Medium crew conducted the rescue of two boaters after a report of a vessel that ran aground on rocks with three men aboard near Starve Island in Lake Erie, Ohio. Saturday, July 18, 2026.
Unfortunately one man was pronounced deceased at 6:20 a.m.
Coast Guard Sector Detroit watchstanders received a notification of the accident from Ottawa County at 3 a.m., issued an urgent marine information broadcast (UMIB) and launched a Coast Guard Station Marblehead Response Boat-Medium (RB-M) crew at 3:05 a.m. and a Coast Guard Air Station Detroit MH-65E Dolphin Short-Range Recovery Helicopter aircrew at 3:42 a.m.
The Station Marblehead RB-M boatcrew arrived on scene at 3:41 a.m. and rescued two men from the water at 4:20 a.m. One of the men was unconsciousness and the second had sustained major injuries. The MH-65E Dolphin SRR Helicopter aircrew located and rescued the third man, who reported no injuries.
The three men were transported to further medical care at hospitals in Cleveland and Port Clinton, Ohio.
«Our deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the individual who lost their life in this incident,» said Lt. j.g. Samuel Rodriguez, Coast Guard Sector Detroit Public Affairs Officer. «While we’re grateful our crews were able to bring two people to safety, this tragedy serves as an important reminder that conditions on the water can change quickly. We encourage all mariners to wear a properly fitted life jacket, monitor weather and water conditions, and carry reliable communication equipment every time they get underway.»
Coast Guard watchstanders issued a special marine information broadcast to alert mariners to the vessel remaining on the rocks.
–USCG–
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