Posted on 07/01/2009 9:00:38 AM PDT by traumer
She was plucked to safety by the crew on a building site nearby after they spotted the plight of her and her husband.
The workers used a crane to lower colleague Jason Oglesbee down to lift the woman free of the water and away to safety.
While they were able to rescue the woman, her husband drowned after the boat overturned on the Des Moines River, Iowa.
Joe Lowe, one of the construction workers, said: "I saw the boat drift down, and he started it up and he hit the bridge base.
"Then he tried to wrap it up with an anchor or line and then I heard him holler at his wife, put your life jacket on. He didn't have one on."
The woman's life jacket kept her afloat for more than half an hour until Mr Oglesbee was able to reach her.
After the initial attempt with the crane was unsuccessful, the construction company rigged up Mr Oglesbee to the crane with a harness and Mr Oglesbee was able to grab the woman from the water.
"They just harnessed me in and dipped me down in the water and I grabbed her," he said.
"If it wasn't for the team effort of Cramer & Associates, we might have two drowning victims," Gonzalez said.
The body of the man, who was in his 60s, was pulled from the water about 25 minutes after the boat overturned at 4pm yesterday afternoon.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Woo Hoo what a man!
This is really the year of the American hero! That picture should win a Pulitzer.
I hope that chain was certified for water rescue.
And in the interview he showed an abundance of humility taking pains to point out that it wasn’t just him, but his whole crew that made it possible. The guy should drink for free for a year on this. What an outstanding guy.
That is a great story. I’m so tired of pseudo heroes like Michael Jackson always getting the press.
Another one of the many reasons I love men!
Apt comparison! In His spirit....
There's a great song for people like this guy and his co-workers -- and a soundtrack for the heroism of ordinary Americans who rise to the occasion when faced with a situation like this:
Love it.
OSHA’s gonna kick some ass for this stunt!
This American Hero has some serious guns.
He and his construction crew didn't wait on city services to arrive on the scene.
A REAL action hero.
Too true to be funny!
He was pretty humble in his interview. Gave credit to the whole crew that worked together to get it done.
Sooner or later, some form of licensing boat operators and making sure they know what they're doing has to be established. I am required to have a license and must pass a test every five years to make sure I'm up to date on any changes to COLREGS, etc. for renewal and yet I have to share the waterways with careless operators of what we call "monkey boats" that do whatever they please risking their own lives and the lives of others.
Don't get me started.
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