Lifeline (True story)

 

        My son Troy didn't have much time to think, he'd already slipped into the Stillwater section of a swollen river twice, he was soaked and exhausted. The day had started at about 8 a.m. Troy was competing in the one fly event, a local fishing  tournament.



        The river was high and movement fast because of the large amount of rain in recent days. It was very cold, despite the conditions I was having a good day fishing and already caught four nice Rainbow Trout.
        Wearing chest -high wader's and boots with carbide cleats,  I was standing on a familiar piece of rock ledge that stretches out underwater near the bridge. 
        Usually, at that spot I can see the bottom but on that day the water was high,  I was going by memory, since I had fished at the same spot for over 20 years. I misjudged my position because of the high water,  I slipped of the ledge.
        When I fell in, it actually took my breath away I hadn't realized how cold the water was. I made it back to shore OK, a little wet and a lot colder, but still up for more fishing. I considered calling it a day but decided to stick it out a little longer.

        Around 11:00 a.m I returned to my fishing spot, eventually walking a little further out, I shouldn't have done it, but I did.  I fell in again, much closer to the center of the river this time,  my feet could not touch bottom..... I struggled to get back to shore, I  saw the land getting further away, when I turned  to start swimming I was actually getting pulled away from shore by the current, it terrified me, I had  so much fear in me I was close to saying, I'm going to drown.
        There were some air pockets in the waders that helped keep me above water. I choosed not to unstrap them because I feared they would tangle my legs, and prevent me from being able  to kick toward shore. I spent a lot of money for that fly rod and didn't want to let go of it, I was at the point to let go. Luckily I didn't.
        In a last ditch effort,  I just rolled over onto my back and kicked with my feet , it worked....and I started to make progress toward shore until my feet touched bottom. Once on shore I was wet and sore, I had used all my strength to get out.....away from the current. I was standing under the Stillwater Bridge trying to regain my breath when I heard a girl yell...

        Earlier, I had noticed a few young people in a popular swimming area north of the bridge. They had large tubes, which had no holes in the center. I thought it odd that they were in the water on such cold day, but it seemed like they were staying on top of the tubes, and not getting wet.
        At first, I didn't pay much attention to the yelling, assuming that the teens were just playing. It really never dawned on me that there was a problem. But then I noticed the boy..... He was in the water.....fully clothed......holding onto the handle of the tube, being swept down river.
         They weren't intending on going in the water. They were going on tubes like someone would go down on a boat. The boy was holding onto the tube, trying to pull himself back on, I saw that he was getting tired. I yelled ,  "are you OK?" and the girl yelled over, "he's deaf".

        At this point, I was wiped out. I couldn't go back in,  I'm not afraid of water, but that water scared the hell out of me. I worried that once the boy got by me he would reach faster moving currents down river. What scared me was that he was losing his grip on the tube, the current was so strong that there was no way he could swim to shore.

        The only thing I could think of was my fly rod.  I had a floating orange fly line on the rod, I've cast that thing so many times that I could land it in a paper cup at a distance, so it was pretty easy to get it to him. I just casted my fly line further than him and laid the line down on the water. The boy saw it, he held onto the tube with one hand, and onto the line with the other, I ended up reeling him in with my fly rod.

        The boy was about 16 or 17 years old. Once I pulled him ashore, I tried to speak with him but I don't know sign language and the boy couldn't understand. I helped carry the tube up toward upper road. The people the boy was with, including the girl who yelled from the opposite shore, had parked a car in a parking area on Stillwater Road on the other side of the bridge.

        I never got the boy's name, I know it was stupid of me to have waded back into the water a second time, yet if I hadn't, I would have left and not been there to pull the boy from the water, at the right time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Reviews

[~Mary Ann~]

This is an amazing story and at times puts faith into the words: "Things happen for a reason." Your son was a quick thinker and used his resources. Had he not thought of the fly fishing rod then the outcome might not have been so favorable.... Kudos to your son!!! :) Thank you for sharing such a wonderful story!

Admiring ink! :)

[Michael X]

wow, some things never cease to amaze me, this story is beautifully written, and has more than one of them,
talented job

[Wondering Mind]

Very good descriptive sentences in a pace that kept me reading on and gave more meaning to this inspiring true story. I'm not surprised that you're proud of your son.

[THE LOST ROSE]

Wow what a story. You raised a modest son. I know you are proud of him. What an amazing story that you have shared. I thank you very much. Tell Troy that everyone is proud of him and that everyone thanks him. What a role model for all!

[Debra Stevens Edwards (..]

This is a powerful and emotional piece. Troy sounds like a Great guy who has some great instincts. Often we do things out of the norm and something good comes of it. You captured this intense and inspiring read.
Hugs Debby

[Valentine]

Annie..this is a real tale of just how God works..He meant for your son to stay and fall in again so he would still be there when the deaf boy needed a life line..Your son was obeying God if he knew it or not..Amazing story..God bless..Valentine

[revenant21]

At first I wasn't really paying that much attention. (not your fault, my parents are talking in the background, and I could barely concentrate). Then, I read the part about him falling and not touching the bottom. It pulled me in. It is a very gripping story, Anita, very good job.