A four member family left washington island about 1:30 pm & traveled to rock island by open kayak. The family spent about one hour on shore at rock island. About 3pm, the father & mother noticed the wind had increased & weather was getting worse. Rather than wait for the 4 pm ferry from rock island to washington island & miss the 5 pm ferry to northport, they decided to paddle directly back to washington island. At aprox. 1/4 mile from rock island the waves began to come over the sides of the kayak. Operator decided to turn the kayak around and return to rock island. Moments after the turn around, the kayak filled with water & sank. All members were now in the water wearing pfd's. Operator began yelling for help and using a whistle to draw attention to their circumstance. A short time later, three rock island state park rangers in a boat, arrived on scene & removed the family from the water. Then they transported the family to the jacksonport harbor where washington island rescue squad met them and transported the family by ambulance to north shore medical center for treatment of hypothermia. The kayak was later found and returned to Operator the next day.
ROCK ISLAND                   