Duluth Fire Department Rescues Two Women Floating On Inner Tubes In Canal Park
Before the rain arrived in the evening, Wednesday was certainly a warm day, but the winds were very strong. Those in the Northland know how strong winds can wreak havoc on bodies of water in the area, especially on Lake Superior.
Unfortunately, two people found out the hard way how strong the currents can get on Lake Superior when they decided to beat the heat and relax on a couple of inner tubes .
According to a report from the Duluth Fire Department, at 2:12 PM on Wednesday, August 16, they were dispatched to a water emergency near 8th Street South and South Lake Avenue in Canal Park.
Once they arrived, they discovered that two adult females who were floating on inner tubes along the shore had been carried out away from shore by currents and both the strong currents and the strong wind made it impossible for them to get back to shore on their own. What the situation even more daunting was that neither floater had a life jacket on.
Thankfully, one of the women had her cell phone handy and was able to call St. Louis County 911 for rescue assistance. Duluth Fire Department's Marine 1 and the US Coast Guard were able to approach and rescue the individuals. Thankfully, neither of the women needed or received any kind of medical care in the incident.
The DFD made sure to thank the Duluth Police Department, the United States Coast Guard, St. Louis County Rescue and Sheriff’s departments, and Mayo Clinic for swift assistance on this rescue.
It's a great reminder to everyone of the power of Lake Superior, especially during windy conditions. It's also a great reminder that even if you think you're going to float in shallow water, you should always have a life jacket because you never know when something like this could happen.