I hardly know what to say about this story. It’s incredibly sad, and amazing to me. I’ve never been to Lake Michigan, I had no idea it was so unpredictable and dangerous.
Qadgop, take care of yourself. My thoughts are with you, and of course, with the girl’s family.
Hey Dad… was wondering if you were going to post about this.
I’ll be in touch again later tonight, if I don’t see you online first.
Lake Michigan is almost the size of the entire state of West Virgina. Big, big, bigass mofo of a lake! The beaches rock because they are nice soft sand and the waters are mild near the shore line. Perfect family beaches!
The problem though is that the weather patterns aren’t all that predictable, because the immensity of the lake screws everything up all the time. As jet stream weather moves in and the sun starts warming up the beaches and land masses, the air is toasty, but the water starts cooling the air near the center of the lake and you can get whacky pressure systems going outward from the center of the lake. Then you also get the water currents adding in their two cents to affect the thermal winds. It’s common for the wind to be blowing one way on land and another way over the water.
Meanwhile, it can be decently calm near shore where the competing winds nullify each other. So you can loaf in the sun on calm sunny shores while the sailboats are tipping over from the gusts.
The weird winds mess aorund with the weather too, so you really have to keep your eye on the forecast in Michigan because it can change suddenly.
On the water, with only a little bit of bad luck, you can be floating reasonably close to shore, and get yourself into some narrow channel of wind and off you go. IME (back from when I was a kid), it feels kind of like a wind version of a riptide, but I’m not sure if that’s a valid scientific comparison.
Generally the beaches are pretty safe close to shore, but you really have to pay attention to the wind.
That one made me cry. 
Glad you made it back to shore, Doc. Sounds like the lake was really bad.
You’d be amazed how many people die in our warm South Carolina lakes and rivers. Often it’s because they were drinking and boating or because they ignored the signal when water is released from the dam into the river, but there are always several people who die every year in the river because they can’t swim but were out there on the rocks or in the water anyway. It’s heartbreaking but absolutely inexplicable. Parents, teach your kids to swim! And then teach them that natural bodies of water are not swimming pools. (Hell, they drown in the swimming pools, too.) Water can kill you so fast.
I’m glad you’re okay, Qadgop. You did the right thing.
You’re a helluva brave man. I admire you.
I’m so sorry the outcome was so tragic. My heart goes out to the little one’s family. 
I think the problem was, as Qadgop described, largely due to the west, offshore wind. People who don’t live on the lake don’t realize how different the waves can be just a few hundred yards off shore in those conditions. I’ve rescued many people who foolishly set out in a boat in inadvisable conditions.
I remember once, in a situation not too different from this one in terms of wind/waves, when I saw a bunch of college guys carrying a sailboat down to the water, then hopping in and heading out from shore. I knew how bad it was out there, and, just as I predicted, they capsized not long after and I went out in my jetski to rescue them. I don’t thing they realized how lucky they were that I was watching and had a boat ready for a moment’s notice.
My mother had an adage that, while not 100% accurate, at least prevented disasters. She said that no matter which way the wind or waves were coming from, a raft will always drift out from shore, never in. Of course, the times it didn’t, she conveniently forgot about, but at least no one was lost.
I am so sorry. That’s just tragic.
I’m sorry, Qadgop. I saw this story on the Milwaukee news and it breaks my heart.
A hero is still a hero even if the outcome is a tragic one.
You are a hero, Qadgop.
Very fast thinking on your part, Qadgop, and as a parent, I thank you for your unselfishness. I wish things could have turned out better for all involved.
Qadgop you did everything you possibly could, and laid your life on the line for a child. My hat is off to you. And if I ever meet ya, the first round is on me.
Take a look in the mirror: there stands a brave and good man.
I’m sorry that you found the kayak empty, Qadgop. My heart goes out to you and the child’s family.
Yeah, that phenomenon is exactly what my husband mentioned when I told him about this tonight.
elfbabe, good to see you, and thanks for posting that article.
That was really brave, QtM. May I suggest that the next time, and I hope there isn’t one, you do take the time to get a life vest, or make sure there is one kept with the canoe. Saving the time didn’t save the child, but it might easily have cost you your life. Maybe talk to your neighbor about it.
I’m sure it was a terrible day for you, and I’m very sorry that you had such a terrible experience.
People continually underestimate the Great Lakes. I think it’s the word “Lake” in their name. Maybe if we called them the Great Inland Seas people would respect them more.
People die every single year underestimating Lake Michigan.
What a heartbreak. I’m sorry for the loss and the heartache that the family and that you are enduring.
My husband is a certified First Responder due to his work in the safety field, and he tells me that he was taught that the hardest thing you’ll do as a First Responder is take the time to go into a dangerous situation safely, when every instinct is screaming, “Help them!” (I’m not saying this to give Qadgop a hard time, as he’s already acknowledged that he made a choice by going in quicker without the vest.)
This.
I’m so very sorry that you found the kayak empty, but so very grateful that I get to share this earth with someone like you.
My heart goes out to you and that poor, poor family. What a tragedy.