4 MI fishermen found safe on Lake Erie

MONROE, Mich. (AP) - Four Michigan fishermen were rescued Friday after they were found holding on to their 19-foot boat that capsized in western Lake Erie.

Monroe County marine deputies spotted the men about 5:45 p.m. offshore from Middle Sister Island, about 35 miles southeast of Detroit, said U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Brandon Blackwell.

Douglas Whittaker, 76, of Eaton Rapids; Larry Vert, 64, of Lansing; Ron Miller, 63, of Eaton Rapids; and Roy Letson, 52, of Charlotte, were receiving medical attention Friday evening, Blackwell said.

The fishermen left Sterling State Park in Monroe at 8 a.m. Thursday and had been expected back at the boat launch about 4 p.m. A family member notified the Coast Guard when the men hadn't returned by 10 p.m.

It was not immediately clear why the boat capsized or how long the men had been hanging on in the water.

Boats, helicopters and other aircraft from the U.S. and Canada cooperated in the search.

"This was a successful effort working with local, state, federal and Canadian agencies to complete this mission," Blackwell said from the Coast Guard Ninth District office in Cleveland.