[steelheadtroller]

Capt Randy Schmidt, president of CSA and Member of Trollers Unlimited, Salmon Unlimited and Captain of Fishing Clinic Charters (31' Tiara open in Diversey) was pleasure crusing his big boat 42' Tiara Open, "Kristin Says" on the Michigan side.

The story, still very sad is below. The link has a picture of Randy's boat and the Coast Guard during the rescue.

Boaters save airplane crash survivor
The Coast Guard was searching Lake Michigan for four others on a plane headed to Mayo Clinic.

Andy Klevorn, Associated Press - Ap

An airplane headed to the Mayo Clinic with five people aboard crashed into Lake Michigan late Friday morning, and the aircraft's owner was saved from the chilly and choppy waters by a passing pleasure boat, federal officials said.

The single-engine propeller plane went into the water about 8 miles northwest of Ludington in west-central Michigan about 9:15 a.m. CDT on its way to Rochester.

Jerry Freed, the 66-year-old pilot and plane owner from Alma, Mich., was rescued by boaters Randall Schmidt and his wife, Kristin Berg, about 2 miles from shore.

Petty Officer Brandon Blackwell said the Coast Guard was continuing the search for the four others, all from Michigan, into the evening. Some debris was found, including a medical kit, Blackwell said, but not a "concentrated, dense debris field."

Earlier in the day, Coast Guard Petty Officer Nathaniel Parks said "waves 2 to 6 feet high are definitely hindering" the rescue effort.

The boaters were in the area before the Coast Guard could get into position. Randall Schmidt said his wife screamed, "There's a guy in the water!"

Randall Schmidt threw a life ring to Freed and pulled him onto their 42-foot cabin cruiser, then covered him with a blanket and bunched towels together for a pillow.

"He was calm" while waiting to be brought aboard, Randall Schmidt said, estimating that Freed had been in the water for an hour.

The couple called the Coast Guard, and a boat from the Sheriff's Office in Mason County, Mich., arrived and took Freed to shore. He was hospitalized and in good condition, a hospital official said.

The others on board the Cessna 206 were identified as Earl Davidson, Freed's friend and co-pilot; Don Pavlik, superintendent of schools in Alma, Mich.; Pavlik's wife, Irene, and Dr. James Hall.


Full Link with pictures:


http://www.startribune.com/local/99117139.html

[GETDANET1]

A life altering experience for all involved, I would say.

[wsj_outdoorsman]

Gladness and sadness at the same time. Thank goodness there still is a God who knows all.