Three Boaters Missing Overnight Found Safe In Michigan

LUNA PIER, Mich. (WWJ) - Three Toledo-area boaters who disappeared Sunday have been found in Lake Erie. John Coates, Jesse Perez, and Ryan Root, all 21-years-old, went onto Maumee Bay Sunday afternoon and disappeared.

Coast Guard Lt. Spencer McFarland says their intense search paid off Monday morning.

"We got a call from somebody on shore, near Toledo Beach, said that he saw a red hand-held flare ignite, look like there was a boat off of Luna Pier, Michigan - he could see a boat out there and somebody waving a red flare so we took that information - we got the approximate position and sent our helicopter out, and then our small boat," said McFarland.
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2016/10/24/coast-guard-searching-for-3-missing-boaters-near-michigan-ohio-border/
McFarland telling WWJ that the Coast Guard received a report that three people were out fishing near Maumee, Toledo area - they left at around 2 p.m. Sunday - they had last talked on their cell phone to their family at 5:30 p.m. and no one heard from the trio after that.

Monday around 9 a.m. the men were found. All three reportedly cold and wet but in good condition otherwise. McFarland says their boat likely hit something yesterday and was damaged--they drifted seven miles before being found.