“Old Michigan steams like a young man’s dreams, the islands and bays are for sportsmen”.
That’s a line from Gordon Lightfoot’s famous song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”, but on Wednesday night one of those sportsmen in one of those bays almost met a disaster of his own.
A local news camera from WOOD TV-8 was on the scene in Grand Haven, capturing some shots of the incredible swells on Lake Michigan.
Stormy weather resulted in churning water conditions in the lake, with waves reaching as high as ten feet tall.
The spectacle brought plenty of onlookers, as well as several surfers and kayakers who dared to brave the threatening surf.
And that’s when danger struck, with the high waves causing strong riptides – one of which capsized a kayaker and prevented him from swimming back to shore.
It quickly became apparent to the cameraman and other onlookers that the stranded kayaker, Adam Medema, was in serious danger.
“He needs help, he needs help. Someone toss him a rope here,” a voice can be heard shouting.
Quickly, onlookers toss the man a life preserver – but right as he’s about to reach land, he lets go of his lifeline and is pulled out once again.
So once more, the line is tossed. And this time, the man is reeled in to safety.
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