STATter911.com
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Two men fishing on the Occoquan River in Fairfax County, Virginia suddenly found themselves fighting for their lives Sunday afternoon. Around 1:00 PM their boat's engine developed mechanical problems and began drifting toward the dam. The men were able to grab onto a pole as the boat dropped the approximately 75-feet to the bottom of the dam. Firefighters from Prince William County and Fairfax County were then called to try and get the men to safety.


Helicopters from U.S. Park Police and the Fairfax County Police Department and arrived on the scene and developed a rescue plan, coordinating with ground units and those on the water in rescue boats. According to Officer Tim Schilling, who was aboard the Fairfax County chopper, they lowered life jackets and helmets to the men with the expectation that the U.S. Park Police helicopter would then lower a net to the stranded fishermen.

One of the men had a different idea. He let go of the pole he was holding onto and grabbed onto the rope used to lower the safety equipment. Schilling says his crew then had no choice but to drag the man along the water, away from the dam, and toward a waiting fire department boat.

Sgt. Ken Burchell of the U.S Park Police crew says they then moved in with the Billy Pugh net and were able to get the second man to safety.

Burchell and Schilling both called this a difficult rescue operation with little margin for error. Each figured they had one chance to make the rescue and worried that a mistake could result in the men falling over the dam.

Sgt. Burchell co-piloted Eagle 1 with Sgt. Kevin Chittick. Sgt. Mark Varanelli and Officer David Hurley, both Aviation Rescue Technicians, coordinated the rescue.

Officer Schilling and Officer Jon Kaminski handled the rescue end as Chuck Angle piloted the Fairfax County helicopter.