In recent incidents in northern Michigan, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) successfully rescued a Caro fisherman, his two dogs, and two hypothermic campers. The fisherman, whose personal details have not been disclosed, was retrieved from the AuSable River in Alcona County after his boat capsized last Tuesday. The 59-year-old, who had recently felt ill and had a history of open-heart surgery, used his smartwatch to call for help, ABC12 reported.
According to a Lansing State Journal article, conservation officers Jeff Panich and Casey Pullum used the GPS coordinates from the man's watch to locate him standing bloodied and unresponsive with his dogs after they followed footprints in the snow. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, two campers were stranded. After a turn in the weather drenched their gear, they battled hypothermia in Dead Stream Swamp in Roscommon County, and the cold froze one man's inhaler. Both the campers and the fisherman are now recovering after the ordeals.
While Oscoda Township has issued an order for the riverboat's removal, citing blight concerns, the Rices hope to declare it a historic site, which could offer some relief with repairs and maintenance. The vessel's future remains uncertain as the Rices take the next steps in preserving a piece of the local community's history and livelihood.
