It was pure luck a fisherman clinging to the side of his boat was heard calling for help on Sheridan Lake last Sunday, Sept. 18.

Brent Gill, general manager for the recently reopened Piney Point Resort, said a distant cry for help was heard around 5 p.m. by resort guest Graham Archer. After spotting a dot on the water, Gill went out to investigate with Archer and Don Reilly and came upon a man holding onto a small 12-foot aluminum boat.

sa国际传媒淲e could see his feet coming up on the port side of the boat and when we came around to the starboard side we found he was just hanging on with one arm,sa国际传媒� Gill said. sa国际传媒淗e was hyperventilating and not doing well at all.sa国际传媒�

The rescuers sprung into action to pull the man from the water. Gill said they pulled up parallel to the boat and shoved it away before he and Archer hoisted the man onto their own boat. The entire rescue was caught on a GoPro worn by one of the rescuers.

sa国际传媒淗e had zero strength left, honestly. With the water temperature being so frigid and not knowing how long he was in there he probably only had a few minutes left.sa国际传媒�

Gill said they headed back to the resort where they stripped the mansa国际传媒檚 clothes, wrapped him in blankets and used Gillsa国际传媒檚 truck to warm him up. Once hesa国际传媒檇 recovered Gill said they took him back to his camp, which was on the opposite side of the lake at Sheridan Lake Resort.

Gill said the man, who only introduced himself as Richard, did not remember how hesa国际传媒檇 ended up in the lake. Gill said he assumes that because of the boatsa国际传媒檚 narrow profile and the fact engine wasnsa国际传媒檛 running itsa国际传媒檚 likely Richard lost his balance looking over the edge.

sa国际传媒淗e went over and the cold water shock disabled him from being able to crawl onto his boat,sa国际传媒� Gill said.

The part of the incident Gill keeps coming back to is how lucky Richard was. The cry for help was faint and if anyone had been playing music, running a chainsaw or even idling their truck, hesa国际传媒檚 doubtful Archer would have heard him.

As a resort manager Gill said this should reinforce for everyone how important wearing life jackets and safety whistles are while boating on any lake. Itsa国际传媒檚 easy to get complacent but he said being prepared can make all the difference in an emergency.

sa国际传媒淚n the summer the water temperature is really warm on some of these lakes but in the fall we start getting subzero evenings and the water temperatures drop drastically and itsa国际传媒檚 no joke when someone goes is,sa国际传媒� Gill said.

patrick.davies@100milefreepress.net
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