hoppyfrog
Retired WS Staff
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http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8131775
7 April 08
A 4-year-old boy saw a canoeist in distress, alerted his grandma who got into her kayak and pulled him to shore.
Phillip Storm, 30, from Plainfield Township was cruising on Versluis Lake Monday afternoon with his dog when his boat overturned, throwing him into the water. He was unable to get back into his boat, so he put his dog on top of the canoe and clung on to stay afloat.
Carter Louisell was at his grandmother's lakeside condo, looked out a window and saw Storm in trouble. Carter told his grandma - Joan VanZee, 62 - who grabbed some binoculars to get a better look.
"I went, 'Oh Carter, you're right. He can't get on his boat. We gotta go help him."
VanZee told Carter what was going on, and told him to stay inside while she went to go help Storm.
"Grabbed my life jacket, went out there, got my water shoes, put those on, grabbed my kayak and my paddle, and pulled it down the edge of the lake and hopped in, and just started paddling for all it was worth," VanZee told 24 Hour News 8.
VanZee battled a strong headwind and choppy, one-foot waves to reach Storm several hundred yards away.
When she got to his boat, "He just puts the dog in the back of my kayak and I said, 'You just gotta hang on,'" said VanZee.
She then paddled back to shore, and even fell out of her kayak at one point.
"It was cold, it was really cold," said VanZee.
and
Carter was pretty happy to get a sheriff's badge tattoo for his efforts - a small token for helping save a man's life.
more at link, pics and video too
7 April 08
A 4-year-old boy saw a canoeist in distress, alerted his grandma who got into her kayak and pulled him to shore.
Phillip Storm, 30, from Plainfield Township was cruising on Versluis Lake Monday afternoon with his dog when his boat overturned, throwing him into the water. He was unable to get back into his boat, so he put his dog on top of the canoe and clung on to stay afloat.
Carter Louisell was at his grandmother's lakeside condo, looked out a window and saw Storm in trouble. Carter told his grandma - Joan VanZee, 62 - who grabbed some binoculars to get a better look.
"I went, 'Oh Carter, you're right. He can't get on his boat. We gotta go help him."
VanZee told Carter what was going on, and told him to stay inside while she went to go help Storm.
"Grabbed my life jacket, went out there, got my water shoes, put those on, grabbed my kayak and my paddle, and pulled it down the edge of the lake and hopped in, and just started paddling for all it was worth," VanZee told 24 Hour News 8.
VanZee battled a strong headwind and choppy, one-foot waves to reach Storm several hundred yards away.
When she got to his boat, "He just puts the dog in the back of my kayak and I said, 'You just gotta hang on,'" said VanZee.
She then paddled back to shore, and even fell out of her kayak at one point.
"It was cold, it was really cold," said VanZee.
and
Carter was pretty happy to get a sheriff's badge tattoo for his efforts - a small token for helping save a man's life.
more at link, pics and video too
