4 Young Sisters Were Stranded on Small Island for Hours After Losing Their Paddles

Four young girls, ages 8 to 14, were rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter after becoming stranded on a small island in Lake Superior.

On Saturday, Aug. 16, at 8:05 p.m. local time, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office received a call from parents worried about their four daughters, ages 8, 10, 13 and 14. The girls had set out paddleboarding from Black Beach in Silver Bay, Minnesota, but drifted to a nearby island where they lost their paddles.

“The girls were stranded on the small island as it does not connect to the large island,” officials explained.

Deputies were ferried to the island using a former U.S. Coast Guard vessel owned by the marina’s manager. The boat, designed for rougher waters, made it possible to reach the area despite challenging conditions.

“After arriving at the smaller island, they were able to make visual contact with the juveniles and communicate with them to stay put,” the sheriff’s office reported.

Because weather prevented the Minnesota Air Rescue Team from assisting, local officials requested support from the U.S. Coast Guard, which dispatched a helicopter from Traverse City, Michigan.

As first responders waited for the aircraft, the Lake County Rescue team set up a rope relay between islands, allowing them to send blankets and food to the girls, who were dressed only in swimsuits and at risk of getting cold.

By 1 a.m. the next morning, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter arrived. Petty Officer 3rd Class Lorenzo Giambanco, an aviation maintenance technician, was part of the crew that carried out the rescue, the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes District said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

The helicopter crew hoisted the four children from the rock and reunited them with their parents and EMS personnel at a nearby field. Lt. j.g. Nicholas Betts, public affairs officer for Air Station Traverse City, told PEOPLE that both the girls and the rescuers were safe after the mission.

“All are well,” Betts confirmed.

In total, seven agencies took part in the operation.

“This successful rescue highlights the critical importance of interagency coordination and the rapid response capabilities of the U.S. Coast Guard,” Lt. j.g. Patrick Grissler, an aircraft commander, said. “We are grateful for the collaboration with Lake County and are pleased to have safely assisted these individuals.”