SPRING LAKE, Mich. (WOOD) — A near-drowning incident on Lake Michigan is prompting reminders of kayak safety.
On Sunday, a brother and sister from Illinois were saved by nearby Ottawa County deputies after the teenagers' kayaks capsized.
Their life vests were in their kayaks but were inaccessible, according to Ottawa Co. Sheriff’s Sgt. Eric Westveer. He's in charge of the department's marine unit.
"They had the life jacket on board, however, my understanding is the life jacket was inside the compartment where you would sit. So, by the time those kayaks took on water and they had to get out, they couldn’t get back to them to get the life jackets," Westveer told 24 Hour News 8.
Westveer said while state law doesn't require kayakers to wear a life vest, everyone should.
Karen Chapel, 11-year owner and operator of Lakeshore Kayak Rentals in Spring Lake, agrees.
"One of our main policies is that everybody wears a life jacket, and we actually custom fit the life jacket to them so that if they do for some reason flip their kayak, they're going to be in a safe situation," Chapel said.