(BASS photo)
Am I the last to hear about this? Last Thursday at the Murray Elite, James Niggemeyer and his marshal, Russ Sorrells, saved a man and his son who had fallen out of their boat. Following is the story, from here:
> On Thursday, the first day of the Bassmaster [event] on Lake Murray, [James and Russ] were speeding to a fishing spot when they saw something…. “When you see a head in the water, arms flailing, and a boat running, it’s a bad situation,” said James.
> They came upon a man and his toddler son in the water and their boat was still under power and heading right toward them. “James put the boat we were in, his boat, in front of it,” said Russ. “I tried to do everything I could to stop it, but it rammed James’ boat.”
> “Russ…was like Baywatch, he jumped in there, killed the ignition and grabbed the boy.” The boy had a life jacket on, his dad didn’t, according to the fishermen.
> “You come up on something like this and you’re compelled, immediately without thinking, to do something about it,” said James.
> In all the excitement, the two fishermen never even learned the names of the man and boy. After they recovered, the man took his son and left in his boat.
Way to go guys!
8 Comments
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Flip 'N' Pitch
May 17, 2011 at 8:27 am
It would seem to me that B.A.S.S. would want to
Flip 'N' Pitch
May 17, 2011 at 8:42 am
It would seem to me that at some point B.A.S.S. would want to share this simple but powerful story on their website. Maybe they can’t due to legal concerns. I think it could help change the minds of critics of the sport who view the Elites as a bunch of invading glory hounds with no regard for the locals or their lake. That may be true for some but for the most part every one I’ve spent a day on the water with would do just the same as Niggemeyer and his Marshal.
Travis
May 17, 2011 at 10:21 am
It was posted on Bassmaster.com. Don Barone wrote an article on the incident titled “I’m going to yell here”
AaronB
May 17, 2011 at 9:42 am
Great stroy! Reminds me of the ‘City Limits Fishing’ episode when Ike and his partner witnessed a man fall from a seawall into a fast moving river. They wasted no time getting over there to help.
tumblebug
May 17, 2011 at 9:57 am
Good on you guys!
YankeeBasser
May 17, 2011 at 4:28 pm
What an awesome and deeply moving story. Putting his own boat in a direct line of collision like that could have caused serious injury to James and his marshal as well, but it is obvious that he put the safety and concern of others before himself. I highly commend both men for their bravery and quick thinking. Let people say what they will about tournament anglers, or any anglers for that matter because actions speak louder than words and the actions of these two brave men are a testament not only to their own character, but also to the true spirit of the sport. Well done gentlemen.
Jeremy Adair
May 18, 2011 at 2:49 am
I saw it on Sunday, but I think this is as close as BASS itself got to it. They seem happy to let it be at that. http://www.bassmaster.com/blog/im-going-yell-here
Flip 'N' Pitch
May 18, 2011 at 1:35 pm
Cool, DB is the voice of the “common man”!