Very Sad Story on Lake Erie, Cleveland, OH

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Two men, boy died from carbon monoxide poisoning in boating incident on Lake Erie, Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner rules​

Updated 2:34 PM; Today 2:13 PM
By Kaylee Remington, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two men and a boy died from carbon monoxide poisoning aboard a boat on Lake Erie Wednesday evening, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner said.

Frank A. Opaskar, 76, of Avon Lake, Christopher Kedas, 45, of Huron, and Owen Kedas, 11, of Huron, died aboard the boat found circling near the Cleveland crib water intake off the shore of downtown Cleveland. Coast Guard officials arrived about 6 p.m. and entered the boat by breaking out a window.

They discovered the three passengers unresponsive and a carbon monoxide detector sounding as they entered the boat. The medical examiner’s office determined their deaths were an accident and suspected no foul play.

The Coast Guard towed the boat back to U.S. Coast Guard Station Cleveland Harbor on East 9th Street near North Marginal Road. Paramedics arrived to treat the three passengers.

Opaskar and Kedas were pronounced dead at the scene. Owen died at MetroHealth.

Carbon monoxide poisoning on boats comprises a small number of annual boat-related deaths, according to the most recent data from the Coast Guard. In 2019, it affected 31 people aboard boats, and of those people, five of them died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says that gas-powered boats and larger vessels with generators pose a potential carbon monoxide threat to passengers if not carefully vented.

If the generator on larger boats vents toward the back of the boat, it poses a risk to people on the rear swim deck or water platform. The gas can build up above the water near the water platform.

When carbon monoxide builds up in the space beneath the stern deck, it can kill someone in seconds. Traveling at slow speeds or idling in the water can cause a carbon monoxide buildup in the boat’s cabin. The Coast Guard said that one thing that makes carbon monoxide difficult to detect is that its symptoms mimic those attributed to seasickness or alcohol intoxication.

The CDC recommends a handful of precautions to help prevent a carbon monoxide buildup on your vessel:

• Properly install and maintain all fuel-burning engines and appliances.
• Educate all passengers about the signs and symptoms of CO poisoning.
• Swim and play away from areas where engines vent their exhaust.
• Watch children closely when they play on rear swim decks or water platforms.
• Never block exhaust outlets. Blocking outlets can cause CO to build up in the cabin and cockpit areas–even when hatches, windows, portholes, and doors are closed.
• Dock, beach, or anchor at least 20 feet away from the nearest boat that is running a generator or engine. Exhaust from a nearby vessel can send CO into the cabin and cockpit of a boat.

No report yet, it will probably be a long time until the coast guard releases the cause. Local news reports show a Chris Craft express cruiser with side window broken out above throttle. Eisenglass panels were in place above the side windows and Bimini top extended all the way to the stern. Did not see evidence of eisenglass panels being installed anywhere on the extended Bimini. Personal observations only.
I agree that news reporting needs to be better and contain more relevant info.