Kentucky Man Saves Two From Drowning In Ocean
Posted: 5:43 PM May 27, 2008
Last Updated: 6:44 PM May 27, 2008
Reporter: Dave Spencer
Email Address:
dave.spencer@wkyt.com
Kentucky Man Saves Two From Drowning In Ocean
It was the Burden family's first visit to Panama City Florida. They had just checked into their hotel and were settling in on the beach when 36 year old Terry Burden heard two calls for help.
He says about 300 feet off shore he could see two heads bobbing in the water getting further and further from the beach.
Burden says he acted on instinct, grabbed his seven year old son's boogie board and attempted to rescue the pair.
As he came upon the 14 year old boy and his uncle stranded out at sea, he quickly learned that without more help he would be the third victim of the undertow.
Meanwhile on shore, Burden's wife was frantically looking for someone to help, saying there were many around but no one willing to do anything.
For thirty minutes the three people clung to the board waiting for help, finally a lifeguard came and pulled the 14 year old to shore.
Then another rescuer on a jet ski pulled the two men safely to shore as well, putting a happy ending on an otherwise frightful day at the beach.
Still, Burden says his family went on to have the greatest vacation of their lives saying fortunately, he only had to put his rescue skills to the test that one time.
The family plans to return to Panama City as soon as they can.
http://www.wkyt.com/news/headlines/19295359.html
____________________
Captain of capsized boat feels lucky to be alive
Reported by: Danielle Dubetz
Email:
ddubetz@wptv.com
Photographer: Glenn Weston
Last Update: 5/27 7:36 pm
BOCA RATON, FL -- The Captain says he and his five passengers are lucky to be alive.
The accident happened at the mouth of the Boca Raton Inlet on Monday.
"It was just mother nature I mean, that wave was so big that when it went inside the boat it took the whole boat with it," that's how Juan Ras, the owner of the boat, explained how it happened.
Monday, someone on shore captured the aftermath on video.
Ras said he was trying to make it into the inlet with five of his friends on board when a wave took control.
"It just flipped the whole boat and all of us were trying to get everybody together and with the waves it was kind of impossible," Ras said.
Four adults and two teenagers were in the water, at least 100 yards off shore, with waves tossing them back out to the ocean. Ras said his only thought was to keep those he could reach above water.
"I swam after them and I grabbed one of the boat cushions and I gave them that to hold onto and the other one I told them to climb on top of the boat," he said.
A private jet ski saved one, another boat pulled two more from the water, then the Coast Guard arrived.
"When I saw the coast guard I was relieved. But I was still in shock," said Ras.
Two were taken to Boca Raton Community Hospital. Ras said it's remarkable everyone survived.
Today, the nightmare comes crashing back like the unstoppable force that capsized his boat.
"I kind of remember everything that went on yesterday. I hope nobody ever goes through that," he said.
Ras said he doesn't know who the good samaritans were who came to the rescue yesterday. He wanted to thank them for helping save their lives.
Ras said he's owned a boat for several years and has been in and out of the inlet at least 100 times but he said after yesterday, he doesn't know if he'll ever boat in this area again.
http://www.wptv.com/news/local/story...e-477192b2f84e 
Linear Mode
