Man escapes serious injury in boating accident

CHASSELL TOWNSHIP — A 48-year-old Chassell man says he was just able to swim to shore after falling out of his boat while fishing Monday afternoon.

At approximately 4:20 p.m., the Houghton County Sheriff’s Department along with Chassell and Bootjack first responders responded to a call of a boat that had washed up on shore near Fisherman’s Lane and Portage Entry Road in Chassell Township.

Officers determined that the boat belonged to a 48-year-old Chassell man.

First responders located the subject walking on Jacobsville Road near White City Park in Torch Lake Township. The man told authorities that he fell out of the boat trying to land a fish.

The man stated that he was unable to swim and catch up to his boat due to the wind blowing the boat away from him. He added he was just able to swim to shore as he began cramping up due to the cold water temperature.

The man was treated for hypothermia and reunited with his boat on the Chassell side of the canal. He did have a life jacket on board, but the man was not wearing it at the time of the accident.