LAKESIDE, Ohio (WJW) A mother and her two children are safe after their sailboat capsized on Lake Erie on Saturday, thanks to two men on Jet Skis who happened to be in the right place at the right time.
The family was sailing when sudden weather changes caused their small sailboat to overturn, sending all three into the water.
Jerry Jacobiak of Toledo and his son-in-law, Jackson Michalak, were riding Jet Skis near Marblehead with Michalak’s son, Tucker, when they spotted the overturned boat.
“Out in the lake, probably a half-mile, we saw a sailboat that was turned over,” Jacobiak said.
The group had been enjoying the day, stopping at Cedar Point Beach and Kelley’s Island for lunch. But around 1 p.m., lake conditions quickly worsened.
“There were probably three- or four-foot waves out there,” Michalak said.
As they headed toward the dock at Lakeside Chautauqua, a private waterfront community where people swim and rent sailboats or paddleboards, they noticed the capsized sailboat.
“I yelled over to Jerry, I said, ‘Hey man, there’s a baby in the water,’” Michalak said.
Jacobiak saw an orange life jacket and then realized it was a young woman floating on her back with two children.
“She looked up at me, I looked down at her and I could see the panic in her face,” Jacobiak said. “The baby was screaming because the waves were kind of washing over the baby’s face. Every wave was rolling over the baby, and she was yelling for someone to throw her a rope.”
Jacobiak acted quickly. After several attempts, he was able to grab the mother’s hand by the fingertips and pull her toward the Jet Ski.
“I reached down and grabbed the small baby by the center of its life jacket and pulled it up and put it between my legs,” he said. “Then I reached for the second child and held that child up by the neck of the life jacket. While I was securing them, the mother jumped on the back of the Jet Ski.”
Despite the dramatic rescue, both Jacobiak and Michalak said they don’t consider themselves heroes.
“We think the mom is the hero because she kept her and her two kids afloat until help arrived,” Michalak said.
“I believe in things like that that we’re put in places where we’re needed, even if it means getting put in harm’s way to possibly protect or rescue others,” Jacobiak added.
Lakeside Chautauqua President and CEO Charles Allen released a statement following the incident.
“Lakeside Chautauqua is committed to maintaining a safe environment at our waterfront,” Allen said. “Our trained staff and brig boat are equipped to assist with kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and Sunfish sailboats on Lake Erie. When the incident occurred on Saturday, our team was headed to the capsized boat from the shoreline in the brig craft. We are thankful that a passing Jet Skier was close to the capsized boat and able to assist.”
Allen added that Lakeside staff ensure all individuals have sailing experience and keep close watch over the waterfront. “The Lakeside brig is a key part of our rescue and response efforts,” he said.
Jacobiak and Michalak said they’re just happy everyone is OK. They also hope their actions set a positive example for young Tucker and encourage others to act when someone’s in need.
