Pere Marquette Beach - photo from Jon Mills
MUSKEGON, Mich. (WZZM) -- The first trip out in their newly-purchased fishing boat turned into a water emergency for a Muskegon family.
The Borgendin family had just bought the used boat and the was taking it on a maiden voyage near the lighthouse off Pere Marquette Beach. They were on the south side of the pier when disaster struck.
"We were just out cruising, having a family day and the back of the boat broke and the motor fell off," says Cindi Borgendin.
"It sounds like the transom seperated from the boat," says Muskegon firefighter Chris Drake.
"Immediately, the boat went under and the first reaction -- get the kids," says Borgendin. "Grab them and let's go.
"We started getting the kids moving toward the front of the boat because the back was going first," she remembers. "Then we had to let it go under, jumped in the water and started swimming."
"He only had enough time to get life jackets on his kids," says Drake of the children's father.
The family of four, including a small boy and his little sister, called for help.
"They didn't really hear us," says Borgendin. "We were waving our hands and stuff. I think they finally caught on and threw us the life rings."
More people on a pontoon boat also helped the family get to shore.
Muskegon police officers and firefighter and members of the Coast Guard responded to water emergency, but everyone was safe by the time emergency personnel arrived.
"We took care of them from there, got them to the ambulance, got them warmed up, had them checked out and everybody is okay," says Drake.
The fishing boat was still poking out above the water about 100 yards from the beach Tuesday evening.
Reported by Phil Dawson in Muskegon