Lakeside, Ohio – A mother and her two children survived after their sailboat capsized on Lake Erie on Saturday, thanks to two men on jet skis who were in the right place at the right time.
The family was sailing when sudden weather changes caused their small sailboat to overturn, dumping all three into the water.
Jerry Jacobiak of Toledo and his son-in-law, Jackson Michalak, were on jet skis near Marblehead with Michalak’s son, Tucker, when they saw the overturned boat.
“Out in the lake, probably a half-mile, we saw a sailboat that was turned over,” Jacobiak told the crowd.
The group had spent the day relaxing, stopping at Cedar Point Beach and Kelley’s Island for lunch. However, around 1 p.m., lake conditions rapidly deteriorated.
“There were probably three- or four-foot waves out there,” Michalak told me.
As they approached the dock at Lakeside Chautauqua, a private waterfront community where people can 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 recalls.
Jacobiak noticed an orange life jacket and 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,” says Jacobiak. “The baby screamed because the waves were washing over his face. Every wave was washing over the baby, and she yelled for someone to throw her a rope.”
Jacobiak reacted quickly. After several attempts, he was able to grab the mother’s hand by the fingertips and drag her towards 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 told me. “Then I reached for the second child and lifted him up by the neck of the life jacket. While I was securing them, the mother jumped onto the back of the jet ski.
Despite the dramatic rescue, Jacobiak and Michalak stated that they do not consider themselves heroes.
“We think the mom is the hero because she kept her and her two kids afloat until help arrived,” Michalak told me.
“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,” said Jacobiak.
Lakeside Chautauqua President and CEO Charles Allen issued a statement following the incident.
“Lakeside Chautauqua is committed to maintaining a safe environment at our waterfront,” Allen informed the crowd. “Our trained staff and brig boat are ready to assist with kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and Sunfish sailboats on Lake Erie. When the incident occurred on Saturday, our team was driving to the capsized boat from the shoreline in the brig craft. We are grateful that a passing jet skier was close to the capsized boat and could assist.”
Allen added that Lakeside employees ensure that everyone has sailing experience and keep a close eye on the waterfront. “The Lakeside brig is a key part of our rescue and response efforts,” the captain said.
Jacobiak and Michalak expressed their happiness that everyone is safe. They also hope that their actions will set a good example for young Tucker and inspire others to help when someone is in need.
