Emergency crews recovered two college students from Lake Michigan Monday after three individuals were swept away by a wave on Sunday.
One of the men was recovered on Sunday and was released from a local hospital after being treated.
It happened shortly before 4 p.m. Sunday at the South Pier.
Authorities say the men, who attend St. Norbert College in DePere, were on the dock speaking with some fishermen when they were swept into the water while walking back.
One was recovered by a U.S. Coast Guard boat and was transported to a local hospital.
- GALLERY: Lake Michigan Rescue
The water's force suddenly caught three walking back, off guard.
"It's actually the waves that goes over takes the feet out from underneath the individuals," Sheboygan County Sheriff Todd Priebe said.
Crews searched for the missing men using a rescue boat, a helicopter and local marine units.
According to the Coast Guard, there were 10 reports Sunday afternoon of people in distress in the water across Lake Michigan.
"Just from people going out and observing the heavy weather, the large surf, the high wind, the breaking waves. Going out on things like docks, piers, breakwalls, jetties and then being swept into the water after a wave broke on top of them," said Ensign Zach Hall, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan.
The Coast Guard says there's been an increase in search and rescues for people in small watercraft like kayaks and canoes. In the last 30 days, there have been 27 incidents.
"Really anywhere you go on the lake, especially out in open water past the breakwall, are going to be areas where you're going to need to show extreme caution and respect," Hall said.
Twenty-nine people have died in Lake Michigan since October, an increase from last year. The U.S. Coast Guard says the victims weren't wearing life jackets 90 percent of the time and urge everyone to wear life jackets that fit when venturing out on the lake.
