ROSSPORT — Sometimes, your cell phone is your best friend.
Three boaters got more than they bargained for on Sunday when they found themselves stranded on Lake Superior after running aground due to thick fog and high winds.
After receiving an SOS call from one of the boater’s cellphones around 10 a.m., members of the Nipigon and Schreiber Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachments were dispatched to a marine call for service just off the coast of Rossport.
Members of the Schreiber Fire Department and Superior North Emergency Medical Services (SNEMS) also attended the call, followed by the Nipigon OPP marine unit and OPP Northwest Region Emergency Response Team.
The marine unit and response team coordinated with the Canadian Coast Guard and the Joint Rescue Command Centre to successfully locate the stranded boaters on the south side of Simpson Island.
Simpson Island is the fourth largest island in Lake Superior and sits approximately 13 kilometres southwest of Rossport.
OPP North West Const. Matthew Foster told Dougall Media the whole rescue operation took about six hours from start to finish, with the boaters returned to shore uninjured.
“It’s fortunate that there were no serious injuries as a result of this, and we are extremely thankful for all of the support from the other agencies we had [with us] for the safe return of these boaters.
“Thankfully, these boaters had their PFDs (personal flotation devices) with them," he said.
“If you’re thinking of going on the water this summer, the conditions of Lake Superior, specifically, can change instantly – it can get pretty wavy out there and foggy.
"If you’re planning a trip on Superior — whether you’re fishing or just boating — ensure you’ve got the proper safety gear as well just in case of an emergency so you’re well-equipped to handle any kind of curveball that Lake Superior throws your way,” he added.
