NEED TO KNOW
- Two men, ages 77 and 66, were in a New York lake for more than five hours before they were rescued on July 27
- Their boat had partially capsized because of a mechanical failure and three-foot waves
- Nearby boaters saved the men separately
Two men were adrift in a New York lake for more than five hours before they were rescued by nearby boaters, according to authorities.
On Monday, July 27, Joseph Davis, 77, and Brian Palmer, 66, went fishing on Oneida Lake at around 8:30 a.m. local time, only for their 16-foot boat to take on water, prompting both men to enter the lake, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
In an interview with ABC affiliate WSYR, Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol said that the trouble began because of three foot waves and a mechanical issue with the boat.
“More than likely, there was a situation where the boat began taking on water, they couldn’t get the water out quick enough, and obviously the boat partially capsized,” he said.
It wasn’t until approximately 2:25 p.m. that the Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol Unit responded to reports of the capsized vessel and a person in the water near Godfrey Point. Before the rescue team arrived, strangers saved the first man, officials said in the statement.
PEOPLE has contacted the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office for further comment.
Gary and Rachel Jennings had gone boating on the lake with their children to celebrate Gary’s birthday when they saw a chair floating in the water as they made their way to shore, NBC affiliate WKTV reported.
After searching the area, the couple discovered Davis hanging on to debris from the damaged boat.
“We saw the boater seat in the water. We approached him. We asked him if he was okay or needed help. He indicated he did need help,” Rachel told the outlet. “At that point, we saw the partially capsized boat.”
After Gary threw the struggling man a rope, they were able to pull him on board.
“As soon as he gets the rope, and then he got to me, he grabbed my hand and just looked into my eyes. And he said, ‘Don’t let go,’ ” Gary recalled in an interview with WKTV. “I said, ‘I’m not going to let go, buddy. Don’t worry.’ ”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Davis had some bruises from the ordeal, but was able to alert the couple of the other man who was still in the water, according to the outlet.
Not long after Davis’ rescue, Palmer was saved by another citizen. Both men were then brought to shore and evaluated by an EMS team, officials said.
“If it weren’t for the life jackets they were wearing, we would definitely have a different outcome,” Maciol told WSYR.
Read the full article here
