Two men nearly drown in West Lake Okoboji
5:00 PM
By Michele Linck, Journal staff writer | Posted: Monday, September 01, 2008
ARNOLD'S PARK, Iowa -- Two men who nearly drowned Saturday were pulled from West Lake Okoboji Saturday by a doctor and a member of the Aberdeen (South Dakota) Dive Team, according to a release from the Arnolds Park-Okoboji Fire and Rescue Department.
One victim was thought to have been underwater for about 15 minutes. Fire Chief Chris Yungbluth said in the statement that both appeared to be in their 20s.
Yungbluth said he could not release the victims' names since his department had provided emergency medical services to them. No other authorities had released their names as of this afternoon.
Dr. Mark Voss and Kevin Vaughn, a member of the Aberdeen dive team, had just finished their dive when a 911 call was made. They went to see if they could help the victims. One man was clearly exhausted and unable to swim, so the divers helped him to shore; the other man had slipped beneath the surface.
One diver remained in the area using goggles and a snorkel to make a brief search while waiting for his dive gear to be brought to him. A member of the Milford Rescue Squad also jumped into the water the help. Once the diver had his gear, he was able to make a circular underwater search and locate the second man.
As he surfaced with the victim, the local dive team, Lakes Area Fire Boat and the Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire and Rescue team, operating a personal water craft, arrived, seven minutes after the 911 call. They took the victim to shore where the rescue team helped paramedics from Lakes Regional Healthcare provide emergency medical care.
Both victims were taken to Lakes Regional Healthcare. The man who had been under water was in critical condition. He was then taken by air ambulance to Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.
Yungbluth praised the Voss and Vaughn for getting involved and saving a life.
The Department of Natural Resources Lake Patrol, Milford Police Department and Dickinson County Sheriff's Office also answered the emergency call.
One victim was thought to have been underwater for about 15 minutes. Fire Chief Chris Yungbluth said in the statement that both appeared to be in their 20s.
Yungbluth said he could not release the victims' names since his department had provided emergency medical services to them. No other authorities had released their names as of this afternoon.
Dr. Mark Voss and Kevin Vaughn, a member of the Aberdeen dive team, had just finished their dive when a 911 call was made. They went to see if they could help the victims. One man was clearly exhausted and unable to swim, so the divers helped him to shore; the other man had slipped beneath the surface.
One diver remained in the area using goggles and a snorkel to make a brief search while waiting for his dive gear to be brought to him. A member of the Milford Rescue Squad also jumped into the water the help. Once the diver had his gear, he was able to make a circular underwater search and locate the second man.
As he surfaced with the victim, the local dive team, Lakes Area Fire Boat and the Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire and Rescue team, operating a personal water craft, arrived, seven minutes after the 911 call. They took the victim to shore where the rescue team helped paramedics from Lakes Regional Healthcare provide emergency medical care.
Both victims were taken to Lakes Regional Healthcare. The man who had been under water was in critical condition. He was then taken by air ambulance to Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.
Yungbluth praised the Voss and Vaughn for getting involved and saving a life.
The Department of Natural Resources Lake Patrol, Milford Police Department and Dickinson County Sheriff's Office also answered the emergency call.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
