In a concerted effort that cut through fog and water alike, the U.S. Coast Guard and Bay County officials successfully rescued two fishermen from the chilling grasp of Saginaw Bay on Saturday, according to WJRT. The duo’s boat was reported sinking near Shelter Island, off the coast of Essexville.

Struggling against the onset of hypothermia, it was reported by the Coast Guard, that the fishermen were found after a distress call which led to a GPS fix on their location. Bay County's Central Dispatch was able to pinpoint the fishermen's cell phone location using an i911 system, as detailed by WNEM Digital. A local ambulance awaited them at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources boat ramp post-rescue.

Starting the search, the Coast Guard dispatched a vessel from the Saginaw River station while the Bay County Sheriff's Office sent out its marine patrol unit, WJRT reports. The hand-in-hand operation showcased the combined capabilities of multiple Coast Guard sectors and local agencies.

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit along with Station Saginaw River earned 'Bravo Zulu,' which is the military lingo for a job well done, mentioned by the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes' Facebook page. Both emotionally and physically strained, the fishermen were reported to be suffering from the cold's unrelenting clutch, but no update on their current condition has been provided as of Monday morning.

The incident serves as a harsh reminder of the treacherous nature of open waters and the critical role of responsive emergency services. Whether by bravado or by chance, an outing on the bay swiftly turned into a perilous ordeal, culminating in a testament to the effectiveness of our rescue services and technology in safeguarding lives against the unpredictable will of the lakes.