TRAVERSE CITY- On Sat., Oct. 21 at approximately 1:50 p.m. Trooper Park from the Michigan State Police (MSP) Traverse City Post responded to a 911 call from a distressed kayaker in the water on Long Lake in Long Lake Township. The outside air temperature was 47 degrees, and the water temperature was 53. Trooper Park enlisted the help of a man on the shoreline with a boat to help him rescue the kayaker in the water.
The kayaker, a 37-year-old West Olive man, was shivering, and had begun to lose his fine motor skills. He informed Trooper Park he was in the water for about an hour. A Long Lake Fire Department member arrived on another vessel operated by local citizens. The local citizens, with help from Long Lake Fire Department personnel, were able to recover the kayak boat and belongings.
The kayaker was motored back to the Crescent Shores Boat Launch. He was transported by Long Lake EMS to Munson Medical Center Traverse City for treatment of hypothermia.
Michigan Conservation Officers, Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Deputies, and Long Lake Emergency Services responded to the scene.
