Police chief rescues kayaker from river

[Silent_Bob]

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20110728/NEWS07/707289991

WALPOLE — Diving into the Connecticut River to save a Vermont man was instinct and duty, Police Chief Michael J. Paquette II said.

"People say that when you're in a scary situation like that, certain things flash before your eyes. And it's true," Paquette said. "My initial reaction is I'm getting my clothes off. And I'm getting in the water. And then it hit. Bang. I've got a family."

Paquette was in his police cruiser when he heard the radio call just before 1:30 p.m. Tuesday for a kayaker overturned in the river.

"I happened to be in the right place and the right time for this guy," Paquette said.

Jason Pratt, 30, of Rockingham, Vt., was kayaking and fishing with another person when he leaned over to look at something in the water. His kayak tipped over.

When Paquette got there, he found an off-duty firefighter had just arrived with his daughter in tow.

"So he couldn't go in the water," Paquette said. "So I yelled at him, 'Tell dispatch I'm going in the water.'"

Paquette removed his police gear and vest, which weigh more than 27 pounds.

"I got down to my T-shirt, underwear and socks, and went out after him," he said.

The kayaker was about 100 yards up river, about 100 yards out.

"He was holding on to the kayak. It was upside down; 95 percent of the kayak was underwater except for the very end that he was hanging onto — that contained an air bubble. He was exhausted," Paquette said.

Pratt's life vest was floating in the water, so Paquette swam to it, grabbed it and brought it to Pratt, managing to get it on him.

Holding onto Pratt and the kayak, Paquette swam to the riverbank.

"I didn't have a vest in my car," Paquette said. "I went out with nothing. I thought 'If I cramp up, I'm going to the bottom.' A lot of things go through your mind when you're doing something like that. But it's a reaction and it's my job and I was committed at that point ... I'd do it again. Anyone would do it again — when you see someone that needs saving in the water."

Pratt, other than being exhausted, was fine. He had a medical check at the scene and was released.

This is not the first water rescue for Paquette. About eight years ago, he jumped into the Connecticut in Charlestown to save someone.

His children are 9 and 11 years old, he said.

"So they're little. They need their dad," he said.

Paquette said his wife was upset he put himself in danger, but happy he had saved a life.

"We got back to the police station and the sergeant and myself went right online and started ordering life vests for our cruisers," Paquette said.

[Lloyd Danforth]

?

[littlehawk]

No taser action? No fines for kayaking without a permit? No senseless beating afterwards? Hmmm.

A spare tire from your car trunk makes a a great floatation device. Rope is also good to have.

[Lloyd Danforth]

No taser action? No fines for kayaking without a permit? No senseless beating afterwards? Hmmm.

Exactly. I don't see any story here.

[Silent_Bob]

Not every story is negative.

[Russell Kanning]

yea it is good to see a cop who does more than worry about his pension
yesterday we saw firefighters putting out grass fires .... and not blocking off the road unnecessarily and not just watching it burn

[Sam A. Robrin]

No taser action? No fines for kayaking without a permit? No senseless beating afterwards? Hmmm.

Exactly. I don't see any story here.

When dog bites man, that's not news....

[Pat McCotter]

No taser action? No fines for kayaking without a permit? No senseless beating afterwards? Hmmm.

Exactly. I don't see any story here.

When dog bites man, that's not news....

But, dog bites shark is...
Dog Bites Shark

[Lloyd Danforth]

Not every story is negative.

I was going by the source

[littlehawk]

One good deed does not erase the hundreds or possible thousands of unjust deeds he's done in the past.

How do I know this? Because they are ALL the same. No good cops, no good nazis.

Every oinkster, every single day breaks his oath to uphold the God-given rights (and constitutional rights) of men and women everywhere.