TWO MEN RESCUED AT LAKE SOMERVILLE AFTER FALLING OUT OF BOAT

  

Two men were rescued Monday afternoon after they fell off a boat at the Birch Creek boat ramp at Lake Somerville.

According to Burleson County Chief Deputy Garrett Durrenberger, the sheriff’s office received a 911 call around 12:45 p.m. regarding two men who had fallen out of a boat and could not swim.

Deputies arrived to find three men in the water, one of them being a bystander who was eating lunch nearby and heard yells for help.  The other two men were clinging to an overturned kayak about 35 yards off shore.

Durrenberger said one of the men, who was not wearing a life jacket, caught a throw rope and was assisted to shore.  The second man could not reach the rope, so the bystander held the overturned kayak and helped to keep the man from going beneath it. 

Deputies observed that the second man’s life jacket was sliding up on his head, making it difficult for him to keep his head above water.  A deputy removed his tactical vest and gear to swim out and bring the man back to shore.

After the men were rescued, they were checked out by Burleson St. Joseph EMS, due to the temperature being approximately 57 degrees at the time.  They were cleared and released from the scene without injuries. 

Responding along with sheriff’s deputies were Texas Parks & Wildlife game wardens and the Birch Creek Volunteer Fire Department.  

Burleson County Sheriff Gene Hermes reminds visitors to Lake Somerville to be safe and use caution when taking part in water recreation activities. 

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