Fire department, MLA save drowning man

BY NADINE ARMSTRONG

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com



What would have been an ordinary cheque presentation at the Summerville Fire Hall Aug. 6 turned into a dramatic rescue operation after a boat capsized in choppy waters.

West Hants MLA Chuck Porter was on hand at the hall that evening to present provincial funds to the Summerville and District Volunteer Fire Department. The meeting was about to begin when a call came through stating that a boat had overturned approximately 50 metres offshore with two people on board.

Department members and Porter rushed to the beachfront to find one man who was wearing a lifejacket safely on shore. Another man clung to the bow of the capsized boat, just 18 inches above water.

Deputy Fire Chief Chris Spencer acted immediately. He said there was no time to waste once the waves began to pull the individual down.

“We made a rapid approach to the beach and I was removing my boots when the first wave swept over the (person’s) body,” Spencer said.

When the second wave approached all they could see of the man was an arm raised out of the water. “He’s gone under,” was what Spencer heard from the crowd as he swam out to meet the struggling man.

Spencer said there was a fear the man would drown before he could be reached. He yelled, “Keep your head above water, and hold on to anything you can find!”

Vincent Miller had been in the one-metre deep sea for 20 minutes before being noticed. “His lips looked like a corpse,” Spencer said. “The man had no physical strength left. He was as close to drowning as a person gets.”

It was difficult to get a life jacket on Miller because waves knocked him against the sunken boat. “I had to literally put it on him myself by grabbing his wrists and putting them in the life jacket,” Spencer said.

“Look; you have to kick with me,” Spencer told him. Department captain Jamie Lyon approached and helped to carry Miller to shore.

Spencer said he was relieved to see Porter, a former paramedic, waiting on the beach. “Once I saw Chuck there I knew he would take control of the situation.”

Porter helped the hypothermic man out of his wet clothes and wrapped him in blankets. He provided supplemental oxygen, checked vitals and breathing because Vincent had swallowed large amounts of salt water.

Porter said he never gave it a second thought. “I just did my medical thing and he came around pretty good.”

By the time Emergency Health Services arrived, Miller was recovering well.

Porter said it was important that Miller had received immediate medical attention.

“The key thing is that the gentleman is safe and there were no serious consequences,” Porter said.