SAUGATUCK, MI -- On the third day of swimming across Lake Michigan from Wisconsin to West Michigan, a voice in Chris Lechner's head told him he was in trouble.

The Wisconsin native came up against 6-foot waves in the final stretch of his solo swim that began Saturday, Aug. 8. While he was only a quarter of a mile away from shore, a riptide continued to pull Lechner south of his planned destination -- Holland's Big Red Lighthouse.

He became paranoid when he realized no matter how hard he pushed, he wasn't getting any closer to land. Instead, he was swimming in circles.

"I was losing my ability to make judgments," said Lechner, who lives in Asheville, North Carolina. "I felt very strong but my mind was getting fuzzier."

Lechner used his satellite phone to call a friend for help, who alerted the Coast Guard. He was rescued near Saugatuck Dunes State Park about 11 p.m. Monday.

"In some way, it is a little disappointing to come so close," Lechner said. "I want people to know how thankful I am to have had a window of time to go across this Great Lake and appreciate it in all of its complexity and to survive it."

Lechner swam a total of 95 miles in what was planned to be an 80-mile trip across Lake Michigan. With a paddleboard connected to him by a tether, he set off from Wind Point Lighthouse on Racine Harbor in Wisconsin at sunrise Saturday wearing a wetsuit and cap.

The majority of the swim was smooth, save for some choppy water near the start and sea sickness that ensued. He remained in phone contact with a friend who monitored his location via a GPS tracking system.

Lechner, 54, comes from a family of avid swimmers. His two-year training regimen involved a combination of vigorous paddleboarding, yoga and swimming.

"My goal here was to challenge myself. Can I deal with this long event? Can I deal with the black, cold night alone?" he said.

Lechner invested time in researching technology for the solo adventure, too. He learned about GPS tracking monitors and purchased GPS goggles equipped with lights that alerted him when he veered off course during the swim. Lechner also studied sailing and had frequent conversations with the Coast Guard prior to the trip. For food, he packed freeze dried meals and other nutrients.

"I didn't take it lightly. I was fully aware of the risks," he said. "The only thing I didn't study enough was riptides."

Lechner said he prepared for cold, big waters but he didn't consider the chance of encountering a riptide. He made six attempts to swim through it but found himself being turned around. At that point, he was relying on a small compass because the batteries in his GPS goggles had died.

In that final stretch, rough waters kept him from reaching the food and water stored on his paddleboard.

After he was retrieved by the Coast Guard, Saugatuck firefighters checked Lechner's vital signs. He didn't require hospital treatment and said he felt fine after chugging a Gatorade.

Lechner, a hand surgeon in North Carolina, tells his kayaking and swimming students to avoid venturing out alone. He admits he broke his own rule, but hopes his decision to call for help also sends a message about humbleness.

If he were to do it again, he'd adjust his ending point to account for the riptide and also mount a large compass on his paddleboard.

Overall, he's pleased with his effort.

"I'm so happy," Lechner said. "I managed all kinds of demons in dark places and I managed the darkness and the cold and the giant ships in the middle of the night."

Angie Jackson covers public safety and breaking news for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Email her at ajackso3@mlive.com, and follow her on Twitter.