Hunter saved from freezing water

Guntersville, AL January 31, 2000 A man on a hunting trip nearly drowns after he gets thrown from his boat. He was in near freezing water for nearly 45 minutes before being saved by two good Samaritans.

		38-year-old Brian Wallace came to the lake from the Birmingham area with some friends to do some duck hunting. He had been in the freezing water for nearly forty-five minutes without a life preserver when he was saved.
‘When I came outside I could hear someone hollering for help and when I heard that voice my heart just went out to him. He couldn't wait for help to come from somewhere else. He needed help right now.’ — Moore rescuer		The duck hunter headed out on Lake Guntersville alone on his boat. A short time later the boat hit something, ejecting the driver.     Janet Moore and Ken Bryant live on the lake near Camp Ney-A-Ti. They saw the boat circling in the water and knew something was wrong.     Moore said, “When I came outside I could hear someone hollering for help and when I heard that voice my heart just went out to him. He couldn’t wait for help to come from somewhere else. He needed help right now.”     Bryant said, “My neighbor had been goose hunting the day before so we were just lucky that his boat was there and we just took off in it.”     Moore said, “He was just purple and exhausted and I tossed him a rope. He was able to grab hold of the rope and we pulled him in.”     The man they pulled from the water was 38-years-old and was a certified diver. Although he wasn’t wearing a life vest he was wearing a suit made of neoprene. But even that couldn’t keep him warm in the 45 degree water.     Bryant said, “It’s a miracle the guy really made it I think. They said another 15 minutes he probably wouldn’t have made it. I’m glad we were able to get out there help the guy and get him in.”     Moore said, “That’s the main thing that he’s made it and he’s been given another chance.”     Bryant said, “He wanted everybody’s name. He said ‘ I want to do something for you.’ I said, ‘You don’t owe us a thing, we’re just glad to help.’“     The Birmingham man was glad to get that help. He did suffer hypothermia but he didn’t have to go to the hospital. Paramedics kept a close eye on him while he warmed up in home of one of his rescuers.     Wallace is now at home in the Birmingham area. His friends took him home once he warmed up in Ken Bryant’s home. Derek Valcourt - Huntsville,AL WAFF 48 News