An Oakland County pleasure cruise turned into a stark warning as a man and woman were thrown overboard on Elizabeth Lake, remarking yet another near-miss in what has already been a treacherous season on the water, officials said. The Oakland County Sheriff's Office has been adamant about boater safety following the incident, which involved a 35-year-old Waterford Township man and a 24-year-old Wixom woman, neither of whom were wearing life jackets when they were ejected from the watercraft.
Authorities were alerted to the situation around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday when an unmanned boat was spotted circling the lake at full throttle, "a report of unoccupied boat running in circles in middle of lake at full throttle and clothing floating in the water." According to Audacy, deputies discovered the boat still had its safety lanyard attached to the ignition key, indicating the engine cutoff mechanism had not been used. The Sheriff's Office expressed grave concerns as this incident could have added to the tragic tally of 11 drownings in Oakland County lakes this year.
In a stroke of luck, the vessel depleted its fuel and was subsequently towed to shore, all while search and rescue teams prepared for a potential recovery mission. Following the episode, the boat's owner revealed to deputies that he and his passenger were tossed from the boat after striking a wake. Both individuals managed to swim to safety, a fact that likely veered the night away from a grimmer outcome, FOX 2 Detroit confirms.
Sheriff Michael Bouchard shared his initial fears with Audacy, stating, "When my phone went off with the emergency message on a report of an unoccupied boat running in circles in the middle of the lake at full throttle and clothing floating in the water, I thought this sure sounds like we’re going to have another tragic death." He emphasized the role of alcohol and the owner's boating inexperience in this incident. Furthermore, he urged the boating community to practice common sense and adhere to safety regulations on the water.
