Post by ridge on Apr 18, 2016 18:32:04 GMT -5
By Gus Burns | fburns@mlive.com
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on April 18, 2016 at 2:46 PM, updated April 18, 2016 at 2:59 PM
HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP, MI -- The ice has melted, but the memory of a father and son who died while ice fishing Feb. 1 lingers on.
Some are pointing to the deaths of 30-year-old David Lyons and his 4-year-old son, Jackson, in calling for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to institute life vest requirements for children on ice.
The Highland Township father and son were ice fishing on Alderman Lake in Oakland County that winter morning when Jackson fell into the frigid water, nearly 300 feet from shore, according to police. His father attempted to save the boy's life, but was unable.
He also drowned.
Their bodies were pulled from the icy water nearly 20 minutes after Jackson initially fell in.
With the blessing of Jackson's mother, Christina Podvin, and David Lyons' fiance, friends and family launched an petition effort named Jackets for Jackson, with the goal of convincing the DNR to amend its life jacket rules to include ice.
The group wants the state to require children under 12 to wear a life jacket all times while "riding in or on a vessel on ice" or "walking on ice."
View the online petition here.
The petition was posted 12 days ago, with a goal of gathering 8,000 signatures.
It had 7,951 supporters as of Monday afternoon, although only 1,100 of the supporters live in Michigan where the rule would apply, according to the website.
"There are rules and regulations for every aspect of our daily lives and we are fed up with government interfering in our private lives but there are certain areas where they are allowed," wrote one person who left a comment on the petition. "A life garment that will assist with our safety while enjoying a sporting activity like ice fishing is needed."
Current DNR rules require children under 6 to wear a life vest at all times while "riding in the open deck area of a boat." Everyone must wear a life vest if being towed by or riding a personal watercraft, like a jet ski.
"Boating accident statistics compiled by the U.S. Coast Guard indicate that 90 percent of the people who drown in a boating or water accident would be alive today if they had been wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident," the DNR says.
DNR provides safety tips for ice anglers venturing out in Michigan
DNR provides safety tips for ice anglers venturing out in Michigan
Man, son killed after falling through ice at Lake Alderman while ice fishing A father and his 4-year-old son died while ice fishing about 10:30 a.m. on Alderman Lake in Oakland County's Highland Township.
Supporters of a new life vest requirement hope to rally support while participating in the Huron Valley Youth Baseball Softball League parade in Milford on Friday.
Following the death of Jackson, an online fundraiser raised more than $50,000 to help support his mother.
"This is a horrific reminder that we should always hold safety first when we undertake water-related activities," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said after the drownings. "No ice is safe ice."
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on April 18, 2016 at 2:46 PM, updated April 18, 2016 at 2:59 PM
HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP, MI -- The ice has melted, but the memory of a father and son who died while ice fishing Feb. 1 lingers on.
Some are pointing to the deaths of 30-year-old David Lyons and his 4-year-old son, Jackson, in calling for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to institute life vest requirements for children on ice.
The Highland Township father and son were ice fishing on Alderman Lake in Oakland County that winter morning when Jackson fell into the frigid water, nearly 300 feet from shore, according to police. His father attempted to save the boy's life, but was unable.
He also drowned.
Their bodies were pulled from the icy water nearly 20 minutes after Jackson initially fell in.
With the blessing of Jackson's mother, Christina Podvin, and David Lyons' fiance, friends and family launched an petition effort named Jackets for Jackson, with the goal of convincing the DNR to amend its life jacket rules to include ice.
The group wants the state to require children under 12 to wear a life jacket all times while "riding in or on a vessel on ice" or "walking on ice."
View the online petition here.
The petition was posted 12 days ago, with a goal of gathering 8,000 signatures.
It had 7,951 supporters as of Monday afternoon, although only 1,100 of the supporters live in Michigan where the rule would apply, according to the website.
"There are rules and regulations for every aspect of our daily lives and we are fed up with government interfering in our private lives but there are certain areas where they are allowed," wrote one person who left a comment on the petition. "A life garment that will assist with our safety while enjoying a sporting activity like ice fishing is needed."
Current DNR rules require children under 6 to wear a life vest at all times while "riding in the open deck area of a boat." Everyone must wear a life vest if being towed by or riding a personal watercraft, like a jet ski.
"Boating accident statistics compiled by the U.S. Coast Guard indicate that 90 percent of the people who drown in a boating or water accident would be alive today if they had been wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident," the DNR says.
DNR provides safety tips for ice anglers venturing out in Michigan
DNR provides safety tips for ice anglers venturing out in Michigan
Man, son killed after falling through ice at Lake Alderman while ice fishing A father and his 4-year-old son died while ice fishing about 10:30 a.m. on Alderman Lake in Oakland County's Highland Township.
Supporters of a new life vest requirement hope to rally support while participating in the Huron Valley Youth Baseball Softball League parade in Milford on Friday.
Following the death of Jackson, an online fundraiser raised more than $50,000 to help support his mother.
"This is a horrific reminder that we should always hold safety first when we undertake water-related activities," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said after the drownings. "No ice is safe ice."