Man, 69, hit by boom when sailboat capsizes.

Man, 69, hit by boom when sailboat capsizes.

PENTWATER — A 69-year-old Pentwater man was hit in the head by the boom — which is the pole along the bottom of the sail — Sunday, Aug. 15, shortly before noon when the Hobie Cat Catamaran he was sailing capsized in Lake Michigan about a half mile from the pier heads, according to Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast.

“Mason-Oceana 911 received a call of a sailboat in distress off the pier heads,” stated Sheriff Mast in a press release. “There was a reported male patient who was injured. OCSO Marine Patrol responded to the Hobie Cat Catamaran that was located about one half mile out from the pier heads.

“Deputies found there to be two other vessels that were in the area who came to assist. The cabin cruiser was able to get the injured male from the Catamaran onto their boat. Deputies reported that due to rough seas it was difficult to move people from one boat to another. The Catamaran was occupied with a 69-year-old male and female from Pentwater. The 69-year-old male sustained a head injury when the boom struck him in the head.

“Both persons were transported back to the sheriff’s office boat slip at the Pentwater Municipal Marina where they were treated by Life EMS. Both of the people involved were wearing life jackets.”

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