By R. Bruce Wright, CPCU
(The following article is adapted from a news release from Dairyland Power Cooperative and the May 20th issue of the Ladysmith News, Ladysmith, WI.)
Adherence to safety and emergency action plans coupled with the natural heroism of several DPC employees and an alert UPS worker saved the lives of two fishermen Tuesday morning. (May 13, 2003)
The fishermen, Robert Fuller, 71, and Robert Matson, 59, both retired schoolteachers, were fishing in the turbulent tailwaters below DPC's Flambeau Hydro Station dam (seen in the photo at right) near Ladysmith when their 16 foot aluminum boat capsized. Shortly thereafter, a UPS delivery person noticed something floating in the water and alerted Flambeau staff. Technician Dan Anderson immediately investigated and 911 was called when he heard a scream for help. DPC staff instantly implemented Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) safety and emergency action plans. As repeated rescue attempts with life rings and other devices were unsuccessful, Foreman Steve Thompson and Electrician Tom Baumgartner ran to close the two hydro spillway gates to stop the flow of water into the river. After the close of the gates, one of the men man was propelled by the water to the edge of the station wall where Dan pulled him to safety. During this time, Ryan Rykal (electrician, Electrical Maint.) was scanning the water with binoculars, searching for the second person. He located the man, who had been pulled slightly downstream. Dan ran down and rescued him from the water, minutes before he could have drowned. Both fishermen were hypothermic and in shock. One had an anchor rope wound around his leg. Dan attempted to warm the men after their exposure in the swirling 50 degree water, and he literally gave one man the shirt off his back and another the shoes off his feet as they awaited the ambulance.
While this was taking place, employee Jim Feurhelm had sprinted the half-mile down the south dike to open the station gate (kept locked for security purposes) for the ambulance. Both men were taken to the local hospital and have been released in good condition. DPC Foreman Pat Randall manned the plant and phones, easing the burden during the crisis. Flambeau Station Manager Dave Carroll notified FERC and DPC officials of the incident and worked with the Rusk County Sheriff's Department on the accident report. "I'm very proud of the Flambeau staff. They responded exactly as they were trained. Their quick action resulted in a successful rescue of two people who may not have survived much longer," praised Dave. He credits the required FERC safety plan, the Emergency Action Plan (EAP), annual rescue training and First Aid training for helping staff facilitate such a rescue.
In an interview the following week, one of the retired teachers, Bob Matson, said that their anchor didn’t hold and their 15 hp outboard was useless in the powerful current, leading to their boat being capsized. “We would never have gotten out of the water,” he said, praising the efforts of the DPC employees who closed the gates and pulled them out to safety. Matson spent 5 hours at Ruck County Memorial Hospital, while his companion, Robert Fuller, spent 3 days their and underwent an angioplasty before being released.
In a statement released after the event, Dairyland Power Cooperative said that they require safety meetings to be held monthly and extensive FERC-regulated EAP and safety plan training is conducted biannually. Station Manager Dave Carroll had just held a water safety tailgate meeting the day before. Although dangerous, fishing in turbulent waters is popular, as fish are thought to congregate in choppy waters. To help discourage this practice near the Flambeau facility, warning signs are in place around the dam. DPC works with local agencies and media to get the safety message out to the public during Dam Safety Awareness Week each year, which this year was just two weeks prior to this incident. In addition, DPC staff had recently notified the City of Ladysmith, per FERC regulations, of high water flows.