AN INCREDIBLE RIVER RESCUE
This story was in our local newspaper a few weeks ago, but I wanted to share it because it could have been a tragedy, but was it turned into a victory.
A 70 year old man named Wrobel who has a history of heart problems had been working on his irrigation equipment on his property near the Rogue River, when he fell into the water at about 8:15pm. He floated away unconscious.
A local man a few houses down a man named John Haight, 54, was taking a break from mowing the grass riding his lawnmower and visiting his nephew, when he heard screams from the drowning man’s wife echoing down the riverbank. Both rushed to investigate. He looked toward the lower end of his property, and saw a body floating lifelessly in the water.
Haight told his nephew to call 911, and then jumped in and swam to help the drowning man. The river was running high and fast, at more than 4,000 cubic feet per second. The water temperature was about 59 degrees. The water was so high due to the amount of rain the area had through spring.
When Haight caught up with Wrobel, he pulled him from the water to an embankment close by. “The man was gone. He was black and blue, absolutely nothing there,” Haight said. He started cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and said Wrobel came to after about ten minutes. The man was spitting up river water and mumbling. An emergency services crew transported Wrobel to the hospital for observation. The next day he was listed in fair condition, hospital officials said.
Haight said it wasn’t the first time he’s helped rescue someone from the river. He saved a boy who was being carried downstream by the current. He hurled a boat buoy to the boy and told him to kick to the river bank. The boy made it to shore safely. This time it demanded a lot more effort, and Haight said he has the sore muscles to prove it. But, the effort paid off.
A spokeswoman for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Dept said, “He’s a hero for what he did.” He found himself in demand by the media also. “I never felt better about doing something,” Haight said.
I think it’s a pretty amazing story myself and just wanted to share it.
Helen L. Price
Excerpts from The Mail Tribune
Tags: Helen L Price
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