There are plenty of ways a paddleboarding trip can go wrong, but drifting 10 miles offshore as the sun disappears below the horizon has to rank near the top of the list. Fortunately for one adult and two children, a police helicopter crew spotted them before darkness completely took over.
According to the Erie County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook, the rescue began at approximately 7:14 p.m. after the Niagara Regional Police requested assistance with a search on Lake Erie. The group had reportedly gone missing while paddleboarding near Long Beach, Ontario, prompting an urgent cross-border response.
With daylight fading quickly, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit launched Air 1 and began a grid search based on the direction of the wind. Time was working against the crews, as visibility continued to worsen with every passing minute.
Just 16 minutes after sunset, the helicopter crew located the paddleboard nearly 10 miles offshore with all three people still aboard. Their location was immediately relayed to responders on the water, allowing a Canadian Coast Guard vessel to reach the stranded paddleboarders and bring them safely to shore.
Canadian Coast Guard Completed the Cross-Border Rescue
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The video above shows an aerial view of the three on the paddleboard that swept them away. Their faces and bodies are blurred, likely because of their age.
However, they seemed to be in good spirits, knowing they would be saved. In fact, there’s a point where they wave at the aircrew as they pass by.
Eventually, a board comes by and reaches out to the trio and helps pull them out of the water. It doesn’t appear that anyone was injured as a result of the entire ordeal.
Commenters Praise the Teamwork and Warn About Lake Erie’s Conditions
Many comments focused on the helicopter involved, with a top reply reading, “And they should have noted that the helicopter stayed in view of this family till the rescue boat arrived. And also, anyone who lives on the Great Lakes knows that any available help will respond. Regardless of country. Good work and a happy ending.”
Others commented that Lake Erie can be rather tumultuous, with another person writing, “Lake Erie can be a beast. It’s so unpredictable that winds can pick up and the waves can come in quick. Lots of undertow. Also, sand bars can be 500 to 800 meters out from shore.”
Overall, the story is a testament to how quickly things can change when out on the ocean during high winds. Additional information about the three people stuck on the paddleboard or if they received any kind of medical treatment was not revealed