Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH WEBSTER - Tragedy was averted Wednesday night when the victim of a near-drowning was pulled from a channel of Webster Lake.
Paul Joseph, 64, of Anderson, remains in the intensive care unit at Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw, after the 8:33 p.m. incident at Smith Trailer Court on the northeast side of the lake.
According to Lt. Steve Knispel of the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, Joseph was unconscious when he was pulled from the water by a passerby.
Tim Collins, the service manager of Patona Bay, was servicing a boat nearby when he heard a splash. Collins investigated the source of the splash and found Joseph - a nonswimmer - thrashing about in the water. Collins threw Joseph some boat cushions, but Joseph was apparently too upset to grab them. Collins was yelling for help as he pulled a garden hose from a yard and lassoed Joseph to pull him closer. He then hoisted the now-unconscious Joseph out of the water and began administering first aid while he dialed 911 on his cellular telephone.
Joseph regained consciousness by the time emergency medical crews arrived on the scene. It is believed he was under water for about one minute before he was pulled to safety.
Knispel said Joseph was working on his boat lift when the accident occurred. He said Collins' actions were "by the book" for a water rescue.
"Most people try to jump in and then become a victim themselves," Knispel said. He also credits dispatchers Mark Hughes and Mike Foster for talking Collins through CPR and for getting the ambulance to the scene quickly without a lot of information as to the location of the incident.
