E.M.I.L.Y. rescue drones donated to Silver and New Buffalo Beaches

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. -- Two Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyards, also known as E.M.I.L.Y. rescue drones, were donated to Silver and New Buffalo Beaches on Monday.

The drones are remote-controlled devices that can be sent out into the water at high speeds to be used as a flotation device by people in danger of drowning.

On top of the donation ceremony, lifeguards from both beaches were trained how to use the devices on Monday.

Both drones were donated by the Ernster family, who lost their 22-year-old son, Kory, to drowning in August of 2022. Along with Kory, his girlfriend, Emily McDonald also died as a result of drowning in the same incident.

Kory and Emily drowned at South Haven Beach, which got rid of its lifeguard program in the early 2000's. Since, there have been 12 total drownings in South Haven.

The hope from both the Ernster and McDonald families is that Monday's donation will encourage other beaches without lifeguards to re-instate their programs.

The end goal for both families is to have an E.M.I.L.Y drone installed at every beach along Lake Michigan's coastline.