(Michigan City, IN) - What was originally believed to be a possible drowning at Michigan City’s lakefront Monday  morning turned out to be a successful rescue.

 

Emergency responders about 8:30 a.m. (CST) responded to the 800 dock in the Heisman Harbor at Washington Park.

 

Upon arrival, Michigan City Fire Department Capt. Jeff Bruder said a middle aged woman with a life jacket on was discovered in the water clinging to a pylon at the dock where her sailboat was anchored.

 

Bruder said a ladder belonging to the fire department was lowered from the dock into the water.  The conscious and alert woman after making her way over to the ladder climbed the steps on her own and was helped onto the dock.

 

Bruder said she was taken to the hospital to be checked for hypothermia as a precaution because of the water temperature being 49 degrees.

 

“It’s one of those calls we like to go on where nobody is really hurt,” he said.

 

Bruder said the investigation shows the woman fell off the back of the boat. Her husband tried pulling her out but was not able to and waited for rescuers after calling 911.

 

Michigan City Assistant Harbormaster Mary Ann Pawlicke said the deadline for boats to be out of the water at the harbor for the season is November 1. She said the boat was still docked because of engine troubles.

 

Pawlicke said the couple was there preparing to have the boat taken out of the water for winter storage when the woman slipped and fell into the water.

 

“Everything is o.k.  Fortunately, she had her life jacket on,” she said.