Man Overboard Dies in Frigid Lake Huron

MV Lubie file photo (c) MarineTraffic.com/Rochelle Smith

A 55 year-old Polish man has died after falling overboard from a 633-foot bulk carrier into the frigid waters of Lake Huron.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the crew of the Bahamas-flagged MV Lubie reported at approximately 9:30 a.m. Sunday that a crewmember was missing and may have fallen overboard as the vessel was underway in Lake Huron about 10 miles northeast of Rogers City, Michigan. The crew said they last saw the man about an hour before and he was on deck wearing blue coveralls or a blue jump suit.

A USCG response boat and helicopter were dispatched to the area, while the MV Lubie reversed its course and began search for the missing man. The man was eventually spotted face down in the water by the crew of the MV Lubie and later recovered by the Coast Guard boat. The victim was declared deceased by local medical authorities.

The Coast Guard is reminding all mariners to prepare for the effects of cold water immersion by wearing proper cold water safety gear, such as anti-exposure coveralls or drysuits.

The water temperature in the area was reported to be approximately 39 degrees Fahrenheit.

The incident is under investigation by the Coast Guard.

The MV Lubie was traveling from Marinette, Wisconsin, to Windsor, Ontario when the accident occurred.

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