Zodiac worth its weight when it comes to water rescue

BY NADINE ARMSTRONG

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

It has been a busy season for firefighters in Hants County on land and water. As a result, two local fire departments have been able finally to put their most recent acquisitions to the test.

Both the Windsor and Hantsport departments battled for and finally won their heavy-duty Zodiac boats, which they say has made all the difference during lifesaving missions on the unpredictable waters of the Minas Basin.

With the aid of a federal/provincial Emergency Preparedness Grant and funds from council, the two departments can now answer the call of duty on water and save lives safely.

“It has always been our intention to provide mutual aid on water,” said Windsor Fire Chief Fred Fox. He said the nearest Zodiac is housed at the New Minas department and the only other option is in New Brunswick. Fox said that was too far afield to help those close to home.

“Essentially, we were getting the calls and going out to rescue on water without the proper equipment. In that situation, there's not much you can do without a boat.”

It put members and the public at risk, Fox said. The new Zodiacs are designed specifically for water rescue and he says they’re an essential piece of equipment for any department. “They're ideal for water rescue situations,” he said. “That’s what they're made for.”

And having more than one available is crucial, says Hantsport Fire Chief Paul Maynard. Minas Basin Pulp and Paper helped to make owning their Zodiac possible. “They've seen the need first-hand,” he said. “We see the two Zodiacs as being the same as any other lifesaving vehicle; we need more than one at a time.”

Maynard said even if there’s only one victim in trouble, the two departments rely on each other. “You don't want to be in the Avon River with just one Zodiac,” he said. “Minutes count and the only other mutual assistance is too far away.”

Those minutes made all the difference during one recent rescue mission.

The 'Devil’s Day'

Aug. 2 was Mervyn Card’s birthday, but he prefers to call it the 'devil’s day'. He and his son Tim were fishing about a mile offshore when their 14-foot aluminum boat capsized into the choppy waters of the Minas Basin. He refers to it as a ‘man-made accident’.

“I turned a bucket over, put my life jacket on it and sat down. Well, I upset the bucket and myself; that’s when the boat overturned,” he said.

His immediate concern was for his son who, like him, opted against wearing a lifejacket even though he couldn't swim. All the same, Card said that’s just what saved them initially.

“We were both trapped under the boat and we had to get out,” he said. “If we had been wearing a jacket there’s no way I could’ve gone under the water and out from under the boat.”

Both eventually got out from under and the non-swimmer clutched the bow. But weighing in at over 350 pounds, there was a new problem afoot.

“He was holding on, but my Tim is a heavy boy and the boat began to sink under the weight of him. I had to go back under and let the motor off.”

He said it was no mean feet to try and unscrew the eight horsepower engine. “Everything is backwards under water. You think you're loosening, but you’re tightening the screws instead. I tell you, under that boat it was as dark as the night. I got water in me that time.”

His mission was successful, but the water was cold as his son shivered trying to keep a grip. “I didn't think he'd make it,” Card said.

Luckily, neighbour Andrew Fisher witnessed the event and dialed 911. Both the Windsor and Hantsport departments launched their vessels and headed toward the pair in distress.

“There were these boats right beside us”

“We were there about a half an hour and Tim said he could hear a helicopter in the distance. What he heard was neighbour Avard Lake arriving in his own boat. By that time Card was laying atop his sunken ship holding on to his son.

“His fingers were so numb, they couldn't grip anything. I told him no way would I let him go.”

Lake was unable to pull Card junior onto his boat. However, just at that moment, the Zodiacs arrived on the scene.

The Windsor Zodiac drew Tim aboard. Mervyn said if the Zodiac wasn't the size and weight it was, his son would’ve been lost.

“I want you to know, with the size of men in the Windsor boat and the size of Tim, they couldn't have done it with a smaller boat.”

Both departments have trained paramedics who ride on the Zodiacs and carry lifesaving devices such as defibrillator, which helps victims who suffer from cardiac arrest. As well, all members participate in rigorous water rescue training.

Fox says part of their training is to encourage boater safety. “You wouldn't believe the number of calls we get every summer. People need to understand the tide and wind changes; a swell can come up so quickly.”

He says participating in a recognized boat safety course is essential, along with proper lifejackets and equipment.

Card and his son are both licensed boaters and agree it's crucial to understand the waterways. “I know these waters and they can be calm as anything one minute, but once you see that fog rolling in from the cape you know things are going to change quick.”

Although some criticism has been leveled against the larger Zodiacs, Fox and Maynard continue to extoll their virtues. They agree that the smaller, lightweight aluminum versions just wouldn't cut it. “They're just not right for the conditions we have to face,” Fox said. “And 99.9 per cent of the time we can access any waterway with these Zodiacs.”

Although a lot of different conditions determine how or where they launch, Fox and Maynard agree it’s what you have in the water that counts. “I don't care if we have to drag them in by horse or ATV, they're what we need,” Fox said.