Klondike Lake, just north of Big Pine off Hwy 395
Six people and a dog nearly drowned Sunday afternoon in an accident on Klondike Lake, but quick thinking by Big Pine volunteer Fire Capt. Jason Morgan prevented tragedy.
“He deserves so much credit,” said Big Pine Volunteer Fire Department Chief Damon Carrington. “Because of the heroic effort of what he did, everyone survived. It’s pretty amazing.”
The call came through at 1:48 p.m. Sunday for a group of people drowning and yelling for help near the middle of Klondike Lake. Carrington headed for the scene and, knowing what would be required, called for additional resources to help. The rescue would require a boat, and the nearest boat dispatch could find was a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power boat in Bishop.
Out on the lake, three kayaks had overturned. Two people on paddleboards attempted to save them and ended up in the water as well. A bystander on shore managed to swim out to the drowning people and helped them cling to the overturned kayaks, but the situation was dire. No one involved was wearing floatation devices.
“What Jason did was so above and beyond, to bring his own boat out there and save these people,” Carrington said. “If those two patients had to wait another 10 minutes for the boat from Bishop, they wouldn’t have made it.”
Morgan has been a member of the Big Pine fire department for seven years.
By Kristina Blüm Justice
Special to The Inyo Register
Courtesy of Inyo Register
I am a kayaker (and a certified mermaid so I’m an excellent swimmer). However I NEVER go out on the water in my yak without a PFD (Personal Flotation Device). Anything can happen at anytime, as witnessed in this scary circumstance. Even the dog should have been wearing one. Glad… Read more »
You don’t mention anything about Nikolaus Poole and Cole Guse who swam to these people to get them. They got them to hold onto the Kayak and the boys got the people to shore . One woman was having seizures and the man was drunk. This all took place before… Read more »
Wow, it’s amazing what you can learn when you dig deeper into a press release. Good job boys!
Typical journalism to overlook the real hero’s while giving atta boys to the first responders.
Shelly Dormire Gosh,your story about this incident,and what seems many others are telling,is SO different than what’s being said and told. Almost like the fire dept. arrived after the fact,but still getting all the life-saving credit. The whole incident, so wrong in so many ways Six people,at least one of… Read more »
That’s interesting. Were you a witness?
K
I am glad this had a positive outcome. All this could have been avoided had these people had their life vests on.
Real heroes are Cole Guse and Nik Pooley 2 14 year Olds and Zac Guse
Did you see this?