Three teenagers rescued a man struggling to swim after his kayak overturned on a pond in Massachusetts. The three friends were out for a typical day of fishing when they noticed the man in the water. Relying on their instincts and training, they immediately jumped into action to save the man’s life.
Day of fishing ends in rescue
As junior members of the Walpole Fish and Game Club, high school sophomores Sean Needham, Devin Dwyer and Nick Serratore are a common sight out on Willett Pond in Norwood, Massachusetts.
“Probably like three to four times a week. We all love fishing. It’s really fun. We get to take a boat out all by ourselves,” Needham said in an interview with CBS News Boston.
“My grandpa, he got me into fishing. I mean, we really just like being out on the water,” Serratore told CBS.
The young anglers were wrapping up a normal day of fishing on the pond one evening in early June when the winds picked up. As they prepared to call it a night, they noticed a man in the water next to an overturned kayak.
“From far away it looked like the guy in the water was swimming, and we kept on asking if he was okay,” Dwyer told CBS.
The three teens jumped into a johnboat and made their way out to the man to ensure he was alright. As they neared, a woman with the man told the teens he was autistic and nonverbal. They could see he was wearing a poorly-fitted PFD (personal flotation device).
“It was really loose. He was sinking through it, so his head kept on going under,” Needham said.
Later in an interview with a local newspaper, Serratore said it was clear the man was tiring out. Working together, one of the teens leaned to balance their boat, while the other two pulled the man aboard. They safely delivered the man to shore where they helped dry him off and made sure he and his companion were unharmed.
“It was honestly pretty scary. Got kind of nervous, but I’m just glad we were at the right place at the right time,” Serratore said in the interview with CBS.
Teens praised for their quick action
Both the teenagers’ high school and the Walpole Fish and Game Club recognized the three friends for their rescue efforts. Jim Kane, a club member of more than 30 years, witnessed the incident. Speaking with CBS, Kane praised the teenagers for relying on their training and acting quickly.
“They did exactly what they were supposed to do. We teach them how to fish and tie knots and all that but the important stuff about being safe when you’re on the water and wearing a life preserver. They remember what we told them,” said Kane.
Club members also praised the teens for their compassion, as they jumped in to help the paddler without a moment of hesitation.
“We were all raised to do the right thing if someone needs help,” Needham said.
According to recent U.S. Coast Guard data, in 87 percent of boating fatalities, the victim was not wearing a PFD. As the teens witnessed, a poorly-fitted PFD can also be dangerous. PFDs should fit snugly around the ribs and should not slip upward over a paddler’s head. A loose PFD can slip off a paddler in the water or fail to keep their face from submerging.
Always ensure you have the correct size and type of PFD before heading out on the water. To check if a PFD fits correctly, try it on, tighten all straps and have a paddle partner tug gently upward on the shoulder straps. If the straps slip upward above the wearer’s ears, try tightening the straps more or choose a smaller model.
