A chilly, blustery, windy afternoon was the setting for a rescue call on Lake Michigan. Door County paramedics were called to assist with a medical emergency aboard the ARTHUR M. ANDERSON.
SBLGFD sent the recently-acquired Rescue 51 truck to the Rowleys Bay Ferry Dock to provide needed equipment and manpower. Equipment included new Stearns® 7077 Bomber-style Life Jackets, ice rescue suits, and Stokes basket.
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Lifelong commercial fisherman/Captain Jeff Weborg answered SBLGFD Fire Chief Chris Hecht's request for assistance. Johnson-Weborg Fisheries' ROBYN B was chosen for the operation. The ROBYN B is a 50-foot open-decked trapnet boat. Hecht, a fellow paramedic and a SBLGFD firefighter boarded the ROBYN B at Rowleys Bay and headed out into the lake toward the Anderson's reported position.
 (click to enlarge) Fire Chief Hecht (also a Door County paramedic), his fellow medic and a SBLGFD firefighter on the ROBYN B, preparing to depart. |
 (click to enlarge) ROBYN B departs the Rowleys Bay Ferry Dock. |
 (click to enlarge) ROBYN B heading out into Lake Michigan |
Upper Left: ROBYN B through binoculars. Note tremendous spray as the boat pounds through rough seas. A flock of seagulls follows, not realizing this is not a fishing trip.
Left: ROBYN B, a telephoto view. Lumpy surface of water indicative of rough seas. ROBYN B appears distorted as high winds & rough seas cause water vapor at surface.
Approximate depiction of operation
A Coast Guard Helicopter intercepted with the ROBYN B to airlift a paramedic to the ARTHUR M. ANDERSON. The hilo was able to transport the medic and equipment to the ship at least 45 minutes sooner than the ship could be reached by the ROBYN B.
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Left: Fire Chief / Paramedic Chris Hecht and medical equipment are picked up by the Coast Guard Helicopter. (Hilo at top of photo, ROBYN B Captain Jeff Weborg at left) Hecht was airlifted to the ANDERSON. (See map above) Photo by Andy Lohman |
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Coast Guard Helicopter astern of the ROBYN B.
Photo by Andy Lohman.
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Left: ARTHUR M. ANDERSON in the distance. This series of extraordinary photos taken with a cell phone. Photo by Andy Lohman |
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Left: The ROBYN B approaches the stern of the ARTHUR M. ANDERSON Photo by Andy Lohman |
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Left: Approaching the "hip" of the ARTHUR M. ANDERSON. ROBYN B's Captain Jeff Weborg's reflection appears on right side of photo. This photo was taken from the bridge of the ROBYN B. Photo by Andy Lohman |
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Left: The Coast Guard's boat from Sturgeon Bay assists with the transfer of the personnel off the ANDERSON. The Coast Guard transported them to the mainland. The initial destination was Washington Island, where Eagle III was en route from Green Bay to assist, but the CG later diverted to Sturgeon Bay. Photo by Andy Lohman |