Kristal Howard and Mario Morris describe their experience as still feeling surreal. They were trapped in Lake Michigan for seven hours and have an important story to share. They chose to inspire others by promoting the proper use of personal flotation devices and emphasizing the importance of paying attention to weather warnings.
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On a Sunday afternoon, during a quick trip on Morris’ Sea-Doo, their lives changed dramatically when a wave knocked them off near Whihala Beach in northwest Indiana at around 5 p.m. Morris, who had high blood pressure and damaged lungs, frequently lost consciousness during the ordeal.
Fortunately, Howard, who had been a junior lifeguard in her youth, was able to assist her partner in surviving. The two swam and drifted toward the rocky shoreline of an East Chicago steel mill. Both were taken to a nearby hospital and treated for hypothermia, but they survived for seven hours in Lake Michigan, wearing only their life jackets.
