Fort Lauderdale, FL 1/28/2021 - Captains from the nationwide TowBoatU.S. Fleet responded to more than 70,000 recreational boaters last year. The calls ranged from routine on-water assistance for soft ungroundings, jump-starts, fuel delivery or to tow their disabled vessels home. For several of the responding TowBoatU.S. Captains, their service to America’s boaters was far from routine. Several TowBoatU.S. captains who acted as good Samaritans to save lives in 2020 were recently honored by their peers at a ceremony held last week at the annual BoatU.S. Towing Conference.

The Woody Pollak Award is the highest honor that BoatU.S. presents each year to those that go above and beyond the call of duty to save lives. Capt. Harrison Reiter and Capt. George Bassett of TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale, were honored!

The story unfolded like this. When an elderly couple inadvertently hit full throttle in their small inflatable boat causing it to crash and dump both occupants into the water, Captains Reiter and Bassett responded. As the unmanned boat dangerously circled its former occupants, Capt. Bassett maneuvered the towing vessel into the small boat’s path and activated the engine kill switch. However, attempts to lift the female from the water onto a dock were foiled as her pant leg had been snagged by the inflatable’s propeller, leaving her head underwater and lungs filling with water. As Capt. Bassett held the woman from above allowing periodic breaths, Capt. Reiter dove under the inflatable and cut the woman’s pant leg from the inflatable boat’s prop, allowing her to surface and saving her from a certain drowning. After spending a night in the hospital, the woman was released with a clean bill of health.

About TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale:

TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale was founded in 1989. The company prides themselves in Solving Complex Marine problems 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We specialize in marine towing and salvage as well as providing commercial launch services and work boat charter services to the marine community in South Florida and beyond. Visit towboatusftlauderdale.com for more information on the company and our services.

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