A Massachusetts duck hunter has a fast-acting friend to thank for being rescued after going overboard in freezing temperatures.
A 19-year-old was duck hunting in Marion on Monday, Jan. 20 when he accidentally fell out of the boat he was hunting from, Boston.com reported.
His friend, who was hunting with him from Silvershell Beach shore, noticed the man had fallen out and immediately called police around 7:59 a.m.
Although he was able to climb back into his boat, the 19-year-old being roughly 200 yards from the shore in the cold weather and having on soaking wet clothes posed a new problem as hypothermia began to set in.
At the time of his rescue, the temperature was just 21 degrees and the water was slightly higher at 34 degrees, the outlet said, citing police. Water freezes at 32 degrees.
Once first responders arrived and were able to get him back to the shore, Marion firefighters gave him warming blankets and IV warming liquids before he was transported via ambulance to Tobey Hospital in Wareham, WCVB reported.
“Clearly, it was a good heads up that the younger individual was able to make a quick phone call to 911 to get resources out there,” Fire Chief Brian Jackvony said in a statement.
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“I’m happy he made that call immediately. It doesn’t take long for hypothermia to kick in,” Jackvony continued.
Marion Harbormaster Adam Murphy added, “Be sure to have all the proper safety equipment with you when you’re out there hunting. At these temperatures, seconds matter.”
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