Lake Freeman patrol program pays off
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

The presence of lake patrol officers Sgt. Mark Back and Deputy Mike Thomas on Lake Freeman last weekend turned out to be a blessing for one personal watercraft boater and his passenger.

According to Back, an incident occurred near the Sportsman. A wave runner hit the wake of another boat and dumped the two occupants into the water violently. Back said he and Thomas happened to be in the right place at the right time and were hailed to the scene by onlookers on the bank before they received a radio call from dispatch.

The passenger was found holding the head of the driver, who was not unconscious but "not exactly lucid" out of the water to prevent him from drowning.

"I absolutely believe the new water patrol program is going to pay off in public safety," Back told the Comet Tuesday. People don't realize that personal flotation devices and ski vests will make you float, but most of them don't hold your head out of the water."

The officers moved the injured man to the dock at the Madame Carroll where Carroll County EMS transported him to an area hospital.