Texas Parks and Wildlife give water safety tips following close call of UNT students
Texas Parks and Wildlife give water safety tips
Rescuers pulled ten college students from Lake Ray Roberts this past weekend. All survived, but that close call serves as a reminder of the need to focus on water safety.
Rescuers pulled ten college students from Lake Ray Roberts this past weekend.
All survived, but that close call serves as a reminder of the need to focus on water safety.
Heading into the warmer spring and summer months, folks are eager to get out on the water, but a recent rescue here at Lake Ray Roberts serves as a timely reminder that fickle weather conditions can make things dangerous quickly.
The backstory:
It was a 911 call that had Texas Game Warden Stormy McCuistion rushing to Lake Ray Roberts in Cooke County on Saturday morning. High winds and choppy waters knocked ten UNT students, who were on paddle boards and canoes, into the lake.
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10 UNT students rescued from Lake Ray Roberts
According to the Texas Game Warden, 10 University of North Texas students were rescued on Saturday from Lake Ray Roberts.
McCuistion launched his boat while being assisted by a state police officer and paramedics. The water temperature at the time was hovering around 60 degrees.
A boater then came across a group struggling in the water and McCuistion helped rescue the rest.
What you can do:
Before you head out to any lake area in North Texas, including Lake Ray Roberts, make sure you have your life jacket with you and preferably on. It takes just a couple of seconds and could save your life.
All the UNT students were wearing their life jackets as state parks, like Lake Ray Roberts’ popular Lewisville Lake, offer free life vests for use while on site.
What they're saying:
With Memorial Day on the horizon, McCuistion wants to remind folks to stay safe.
"They actually floated from Denton County into Cook County. That’s how far the wind was blowing them," said McCuistion. "The good Lord had a fisherman out there with a boat who already had a couple of folks picked up out of the water for us."
And it's also important to have a plan.
"Know your conditions before you go out, download the WAPP whenever you want to go, do something. If you do find yourself in a situation where you need help, get to the bank because you’re not going to drown or hypothermic if you’re on land.
What's next:
The 10 UNT students are expected to be OK. Stormy told me that having their life jackets on made all the difference.
The Source: Information in this article is provided by Texas Parks and Wildlife.