After a rash of incidents over the past few days, the Door County Sheriff’s Department is reminding visitors that the area’s waters are beautiful but can be extremely unpredictable.
Within 24 hours of recovering the bodies of two kayakers from Illinois, the department, along with other agencies including the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Coast Guard, responded to two other incidents involving people being rescued without life jackets.
On Monday at around 9 p.m., two paddleboarders near Little Sister Bay needed to be rescued after they floated too far from Pebble Beach without life jackets.
On Tuesday at around 12:20 p.m., multiple people had to be rescued near Whitefish Dunes State Park after they were caught in a rip current hundreds of yards from shore.
Everyone returned to shore safely, but the Door County Sheriff’s Department used the incidents as a teaching moment.
"Wisconsin law requires that every boat, kayak, canoe, paddleboard and other floating vessel have a properly sized, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket available for each person on board," the department said in a statement. "We strongly encourage everyone to wear their life jacket whenever they are on the water, as it can make the difference between life and death. Swimmers, especially those unfamiliar with the area, should also consider using a flotation device and never swim alone. Before heading out, always check the weather and water conditions, let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return, and be prepared to change your plans if conditions deteriorate. Taking these simple precautions can help prevent tragedies and save lives."
Door, Kewaunee and Manitowoc counties are under a small craft advisory and a beach hazards statement until 10 p.m. Tuesday because of high waves and dangerous currents.
The National Weather Service says several beaches are especially susceptible to dangerous swimming conditions, including Rock Island State Beach, Baileys Harbor beaches and Whitefish Dunes Beach in Door County; Crescent Beach and the City of Kewaunee Beach in Kewaunee County; and Point Beach, Neshotah Beach and Red Arrow Beach in Manitowoc County.
