A family of four from Minnesota is safe after their canoe took on water Tuesday night along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

At approximately 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, the Alger County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Pictured Rocks Cruise boats reporting several people stranded on the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore near Bridal Falls located approximately 1 mile east of Miners beach. The Alger County Rescue 21 team responded with two vessels.

Upon completion of the rescue it was determined that a family of four from Minneapolis, Minnesota was canoeing along the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore when they were overtaken by rising winds and waves.

The victims said their canoe had taken on a substantial amount of water causing it to become inoperable.

The two adults and two small children, who were wearing life jackets, had to swim approximately 150 yards to reach a small rocky beach near Bridal Falls of Pictured Rocks. Passengers and the captain of a Pictured Rocks Cruise boat saw the victims and contacted the Alger County Sheriff’s Office.

The victims were recovered from the rocky shores and transported to the Munising Marina by the Alger County Rescue boat. All four victims were transported to MMH for evaluation by the Alger County EMS staff. The rescue team was assisted by an employee and a passenger of the Pictured Rocks Cruises.

The Alger County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind everyone to use extreme caution when venturing out on Lake Superior. Being aware of weather conditions, time of day and utilization of a proper vessel is a must.