MINSTER — A man was rescued after falling from his boat into a Lake Loramie in the 7000 block of state Route 119 Wednesday afternoon.

The man, who hasn’t been identified, was rescued by members of the Kettlersville Van Buren Township Fire Department.

“He was fishing in his boat and was in the seat,” said Kettlersville Van Buren Township Fire Chief Chuck Axe. “The seat broke when he leaned back. The boat went over and he and his dog went into the water.”

Axe, who was the first on the scene, said he spotted the sinking boat in the water.

“I drove up to the boat and I saw the man hanging on a tree,” said Axe. “I yelled at him and he was able to answer me.

“A neighbor had a rowboat and I went out there (to the victim),” said Axe. “I put a life jacket on him and had him hang onto the boat.”

After firefighters from the fire department arrived on the scene, Lt. Doug Bertke and firefighter Rodney Messer put on cold water rescue gear. The pair entered the water and swam toward the victim. They then began moving the victim toward the shore.

“I had Sidney Fire dispatched just in case we needed their boat,” said Axe. “We were close to getting him out of the water when they arrived. They threw a rope to us and assisted with getting him out of the water.”

Minster Life Squad treated the victim at the scene. He was transported to Wilson Health for hypothermia.

“He was really cold when we pulled him out,” said Axe. “He was in the water for close to an hour.”

Axe said he didn’t know how long the man was in the water before a neighbor heard him yelling for help.

“The resident closest to (state Route) 119 had just gotten home and heard him yelling. She called it in,” said Axe. “He was lucky she came home when she did.”

Sidney Fire Department Assistant Chief Cameron Haller said the Sidney firefighters went to the west side of the water with their equipment. They tossed a throw bag with a rope to Axe.

“We were able to pull help victim to the shore,” said Haller.

Also assisting at the scene was Fort Loramie Police, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Lake Loramie Park Officers.

Kettlersville Van Buren Township firefighters help a man, center, in orange life preserver, hold onto a rescue boat after the man’s boat, upper right hand corner, sank in Lake Loramie just south of state Route 119 Wednesday, March 29. Fire Chief Chuck Axe pulls on the rope thrown by Sidney firefighters to bring the man to shore. Reportedly the man was stuck on a tree overhanging the lake after his boat sank. Also responding to the scene were the Fort Loramie Police Chief, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Park Officers.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/03/web1_SDN033017BoatRescue1-1.jpgKettlersville Van Buren Township firefighters help a man, center, in orange life preserver, hold onto a rescue boat after the man’s boat, upper right hand corner, sank in Lake Loramie just south of state Route 119 Wednesday, March 29. Fire Chief Chuck Axe pulls on the rope thrown by Sidney firefighters to bring the man to shore. Reportedly the man was stuck on a tree overhanging the lake after his boat sank. Also responding to the scene were the Fort Loramie Police Chief, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Park Officers. Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

Lt. Doug Bertke and Firefighter Rodney Messer, of the Kettlersville Van Buren Township, assist the victim onto land after he was rescue from Lake Loramie.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/03/web1_SDN033017BoatRescue2-1.jpgLt. Doug Bertke and Firefighter Rodney Messer, of the Kettlersville Van Buren Township, assist the victim onto land after he was rescue from Lake Loramie. Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News