Teens Safe After Berrien Co. Water Rescue

Officers were dispatched to the area of Camp Sokol on Marquette Drive in New Buffalo Township for two 14 year old girls that were on a raft that had drifted out into Lake Michigan and could not get back to shore.  Officers learned that the girls were sunbathing on the raft close to shore and fell asleep.  The raft was caught in the current which took them about 300 yards offshore.  The girls were not wearing lifejackets and had no paddles to get back in.  They did have a cell phone and called parents, who in turn called 911.

Officers who arrived on scene kept watch of the raft while the New Buffalo Township Fire Department and the Chikaming Township Fire Department’s water rescue team were dispatched.  The United States Coast Guard also sent a boat from the Michigan City, Indiana station.  A private fishing boat spotted the girls and stayed with them until the Chikaming Township water rescue boat arrived.  The girls were taken on board Chikaming Township’s boat and brought back to shore unharmed.