Coast Guard conducts search for person in the water near Port Sheldon, Mich.

CLEVELAND -- The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting a search for a 55-year-old man who fell overboard in Lake Michigan approximately five miles west of Port Sheldon, Mich., Saturday.

He was reportedly not wearing a personal flotation device.

The Coast Guard received notification from a good Samaritan at approximately 1 p.m. that a man had fallen overboard from a 28-foot pleasure craft. He was reportedly wearing a cream colored polo shirt.

The Coast Guard is searching with a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat from Station Grand Haven, a 25-foot Response Boat from Station Holland and an HH-65 Dolphin Rescue Helicopter from Air Facility Waukegan.

Two Ottawa County Sheriff Marine Patrol vessels and numerous good Samaritans, who responded via VHF radio, are also involved in the search.

The Coast Guard also reminds everyone that all recreational boats must carry one wearable personal flotation device (Type I, II, III or Type V PFD) for each person aboard. Any boat 16 feet and longer (except canoes and kayaks) must also carry one throwable PFD (Type IV PFD).

The law states boaters must have a PFD onboard, but the Coast Guard recommends boaters wear their PFDs at all times when boating. It is much more difficult to locate, access or don a PFD at the moment an accident occurs.

For information contact Lt. j.g. Casey Steuer, Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan Public Affairs, at (608) 469-2944.

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