A Wisconsin man who was stranded on Saint Martin Island for more than 24 hours after running aground near the island in Lake Michigan, north of Rock Island, was rescued by the US Coast Guard. The Sturgeon Bay search & rescue command center, the Washington Island Coast Guard crew & a helicopter crew from Traverse City, Michigan were deployed in the search for Douglas Kluth who was piloting his 27-foot sailing vessel when he lost control & it ran aground. During his time on the island, Kluth used flares & S-O-S light signals to try to get help. A helicopter rescue swimmer was deployed to the wreck site & used the sailboat’s dingy to motor to the Washington Island rescue crew who safely delivered Kluth to Washington Island. The sailing vessel remains sunk near the dock at Saint Martin Island awaiting salvage arrangements.
