Pleased to say victim was treated and released
By Barb Pert Templeton
An incident at the Smith Street boat launch in Algonac on Saturday, April 13 had the local fire department rescue boat on the scene along with a pair of local men who jumped into the St. Clair River to help a man who had fallen overboard.
The incident began when Devin Boghian, 19, of Clay Township and Gunner Lonergan, 22, of Algonac, were passing by in a vehicle and noticed a man in the river hanging onto the back of a boat. The duo pulled over, ran to the water, swam out to the boat and eventually managed to pull the man in distress on board.
When the boat’s motor wouldn’t start Devin and Gunner waved down an Algonac Fire Department Rescue Boat and got the boat, themselves and the man in distress towed to shore.
(See Part 1 of this story where the men share their tale on the water.)
Algonac Fire Chief Joseph Doan.
Blue Water Healthy Living sent some questions to Algonac Fire Chief Joe Doan to find out his department’s role in the event.
Blue Water Healthy Living: Was the fire department called or did you just happen to be on the river that day?
Algonac Fire Chief Joseph Doan: The Fire Department was dispatched to the Smith Street boat launch for a subject that had fallen from the boat into the water- subject was out of the water and back on the boat complaining of difficulty in breathing. This was dispatched at 16:18 Hours and On Location at 16:20 Hours.
Blue Water Healthy Living: Were you, personally, at the scene?
Chief Doan: Yes, I along with other members of the department responded to the call for help.
Blue Water Healthy Living: What was happening on the water at that time?
Chief Doan: Our boat was returning from mutual aid to Clay Township when this call came out. Our boat was in the North Channel in front of Seafarers. While returning to the boat ramp they passed a small fishing boat that had two male subjects without shirts on- when they went by one of the males waved at them with one arm, not indicating any distress. The radio on the fire boat was on Clay Township’s frequency from the previous call and the crew was unaware of the call taking place at the boat ramp until they were contacted via telephone. Once they were made aware of the situation the boat crew turned back and made contact with the subjects, fire boat was on location at 16:24 hours. Upon approaching the fishing boat, the two male subjects appeared to be argumentative and began swearing at the crew- after a couple minutes the crew was able to get a tow line secured to the fishing boat and tow the vessel to the boardwalk where personnel and EMS were awaiting.
Blue Water Healthy Living: Did your team render aid to the man once his boat was pulled to the shore? If so, can you explain what you do in this case?
Chief Doan: When the boat arrived to the boardwalk at 16:29 hours- personnel assisted the male subject that had fallen into the water from the boat and Tri-Hospital EMS evaluated him.
Blue Water Healthy Living: Did your role in the incident conclude at that point or?
Chief Doan: No. When I arrived at the boat launch, there were two St. Clair County Sheriff Deputies on scene, they were on the boardwalk talking to witnesses. I spoke with the boat owner who stated the motor wouldn’t stay running and when his friend went to step off the boat on to the dock it pushed away causing him to fall into the water. Due to the winds the boat began to drift out of the ramp area and the two males jumped into render aid. There were no reports of injuries. At this point the boat owner returned the fishing boat to the boat ramp and fire personnel assisted him with getting it on the trailer and out of the water. Fire boat returned to the ramp and was placed back on the trailer.
Blue Water Healthy Living: Can you describe the conditions on the lake that afternoon?
Chief Doan: Weather conditions on this date was: Temperature 64 degrees, Winds WNW @ 13MPH with Gusts of 21MPH, waves were 2-3 feet, water temperature was 46 degrees.
Blue Water Healthy Living: Do you have any words for the two local men who jumped into save the fisherman? Would you call them heroes?
Chief Doan: They were at the right place at the right time and their actions definitely made a difference by getting the individual out of the water and back onto the boat.
