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The
Officers, Directors and Members of
US SAILING
are
pleased to present the
ARTHUR B. HANSON RESCUE MEDAL
to the
crew of
for the rescue as follows:
On May 18, 2003
Ensign owner Tom Fraser, and crew Mike Dodge, Chris Grow and Matt
Morman were
preparing their boat C.F. Pickle,
inside the harbor for the River Challenge in Lake St. Clair, MI when
Morman heard calls of distress just outside the breakwall.
Morman observed from the pier as the passengers in a
fishing boat rushed to the water-filled side to bail their swamped boat,
though they should have gone to the opposite side for counterbalance. The boat flipped over, dumping five people into the 2’
seas, 15+ miles of wind and cold
56-degree water. The
five fishermen had been on board a
rented 14-foot aluminum fishing boat.
Morman saw two life jackets peel right off a little
boy and a man as they floated right off of them.
He knew they needed help. Morman
jumped into the water pulling a 39 year-old man to shore with great
struggle. Dodge jumped in
and pulled a 7 year-old boy to shore.
Dodge returned and pulled a 33 year-old man to shore after about
15 minutes from the first yells. Fraser
assisted by throwing liferings and lines, and getting the victims from
the water level, up the ladders mounted on the seawall to safety.
With the low water levels of 2003, the bottom of the ladders were out of
the water. Grow and others pulled the victims up the ladder using
rope. Grow also called 911 on his cell phone for additional
help. At this point, two more victims had submerged and could no longer
be seen. The bodies of
these two, a 10 year-old boy and 24 year-old man were recovered two days
later by authorities.
The United State Coast Guard requested that the
race committee abandon the day’s racing so they could conduct their
investigation and continue recovery efforts.
The race committee complied.
Congratulations to Tom
Fraser, and crew Mike Dodge, Chris Grow and Matt Morman, for coming to the aid of mariners in peril, in what proved to be
fatal conditions taking great risk of personal harm. US SAILING is pleased to present the Arthur B. Hanson Rescue
Medal in recognition of this event.
Ronald C. Trossbach
Chairman, Safety at Sea Committee
By Direction
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The Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal was awarded
to the
crew of C.F. Pickle
at
the Detroit Regional
Yacht-Racing Association board meeting,
by presenter
US SAILING Past
Vice-President Ted Everingham,
on behalf of US SAILING.
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Left to right: Jack Morman
(accepting for his son, Matt), Tom Fraser, US SAILING Past Vice
President Ted Everingham, Mike Dodge, and Chris Grow.
Photograph by Stephen Lirroff
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DETAILS:
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C.F.Pickle had not left the dock at the time of the
rescue. The disaster and rescue occurred prior to the start of the race
(which was ultimately canceled at Coast Guard request). The owner and
crew were readying their boat when they heard the victims distress cries
on the other side of the sea wall from their dockage.
The two C.F. Pickle crew went into the water. The
owner was part of the group on the dock pointing, throwing life rings
and lines, helping to haul people out of the water. He was undoubtedly
one of the first on the scene. I do not know who called for the Coast
Guard and Police. The rescue had been completed by the time that the C.G.
arrived, if I am not mistaken.
No one was pulled aboard C.F.Pickle, nor were their
sails up. I doubt that their engine was started.
If I may clarify the situation further, please let
me know. I can talk with some of the others who, like myself, were
involved, but not to the extent of those in the water.
Note: The bodies of the other two individuals who
were in the boat were eventually found several miles downstream many
days later.
Tom Fraser adds:
It was Matt Morman with the 39 year old. Matt got him to the ladder and
he couldn't hold on. When Matt let go of him I didn't have the line on
him well from above and it slipped off and he went down again. I called
to Matt and he returned, pulled him up again and secured the line on him
and Chris Grow and several others hauled him up. At the same time I was
calling to the Man who rented the boat, I think his name was Ward, to
stay with the boat as Mike and Matt were very busy in the water. I threw
a life saving horseshoe over the capsized boat and pulled it to him and
instructed him how to put it on. After that I Pulled him from the boat
to the ladder and Mike Dodge got back in the water to assist him at the
ladder. Again we dropped lines to get him up. Chris went down the
ladder early in the rescue to receive the child from Mike Dodge. Chris
was also the first one on a cell phone to call the police for
assistance. After we had the 3 on the dock we realized that there were
still 2 missing as the police began to arrive. Bill Kuester, Pat Clark
and myself then went aboard Bill's troller to search the area before the
coast guard arrived. We searched in vain for about 2 hours until the
divers showed up. The first body was found 2 days later right out in
front of the park pier and the boy's body was found 7 days later at
Grosse Isle. As one last note, Matt's last name is Morman, not Mormon.
Nominators Name: Stephen A. Liroff
Event Name: River Challenge
Sponsoring Yacht Club: Detroit Yacht Club
Date of Event: 5/18/03
Event City: Detroit
Event State: MI
Date of Incident: 5/18/03
Body of Water: Lake St. Clair
First Victims Name: Michael Ward age 39
First Boat Name: rented row boat
First Boat Length: 14 ft.
Second Victims Name: Sergio Stevens age33
Second Boat Name: rented row boat
Second Boat Length: 14 ft.
Third Victims Name: Michael Ward age 7
Third Boat Name: rented row boat
Third Boat Length: 14 ft.
Rescuing Skipper: Tom Fraser
Rescuing1 Boat Name: C.F.Pickle
What was the nature of this incident: see attachment
Did a Mayday call go out: telephone
Who responded: Coast Guard/police/multiple boaters
Was any injury sustained by the victim: hypothermia
Can your story be published: Yes
Can you provide articles about this event: Yes, Detroit Free Press
5/19/03
Was a PFD worn: y
Was this day or night: day
Wind speed: in excess of 15 miles per hour
Wave height: 2 feet
Water temperature: 56
How much time did the victim spend in the water: up to 15 minutes
(approximately)
Did the victims boat lose site of the victim: no
Was a rescue swimmer put in the water: y
Did the victim have a strobe light or whistle: n
What color clothes were visible above the water: dark clothing
Was the victim able to help in the recovery: y
Rescuing Crews Names: Mike
Dodge: Entered water and pulled victims out Matt Morman: Entered water
and pulled victims out. Tom Fraser: assisted from dock
How did victim help himself back onboard: in climbing the ladder
How did the victim get hoisted onto the deck:
Child: hoisted from water to top of retaining wall
Adults: climbed fixed ladder to top of retaining wall with assistance
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