Indiana Conservation Officers patrolling Lake Michigan plucked three Illinois men from the sixty degree waters of Lake Michigan at 11:45 a.m. on Memorial Day.

The three men had fallen off their personal water craft approximately a quarter of a mile off shore from Lake Street beach in Lake County. The strong southwest winds were blowing their water craft away faster than they could swim after it. All three were cold and exhausted. The officers were able to get them in their patrol boat, and then reunite them with their jet ski.

“This is a perfect example of why wearing a personal flotation jacket is so important when on a personal water craft,” said First Sgt. Tom Torsell. “Without these guys having their life jackets on, this could easily have been three body recoveries.”

Indiana law requires all persons on a personal water craft to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device.

All other boats require a wearable U.S. Coast Guard approved device be on board for each person on the boat. Although it is not required to wear them on boats other than personal water crafts, the Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division highly recommends they be worn.

Posted 5/31/2011