Jeff Lowe is a real lifesaver and was recognized as such by the Oxford Twp. Board Sept. 28.
The 36-year-old Oxford resident was honored by the board with a special resolution (see shaded box) for coming to the rescue of fellow Oxford resident Evald Jorgensen, 77.
‘He saved my life,? Jorgensen said. ‘I think he’s the greatest. He deserves this reward plus a lot more.?
The two were fishing separately on Lakeville Lake in Addison Township Saturday, Aug. 27 when Lowe noticed Jorgensen was in trouble.
Somehow the senior’s boat had flipped over and Jorgensen ended up in the water, hanging on to the side as it started to rain.
‘He looked like he was struggling pretty bad,? Lowe said. ‘It looked like he was ready to go down.?
Lowe raced over to the scene, but was unable to pull Jorgensen from the water because the anchor rope was wrapped around his leg and the anchor was still at the bottom of the lake.
‘When I first got there, he was starting to go down,? Lowe said. ‘He could barely talk. He was shaking real bad.?
Still in the water and holding Jorgensen’s hand, Lowe towed him, the attached anchor and his water-filled boat to safety.
‘I just gunned it as fast as I could with my little trolling motor,? Lowe said. ‘We didn’t go very fast.?
Lowe managed to get Jorgensen to a small island where he detached the rope and anchor from his leg along with the senior’s fishing pole and line.
Leaving Jorgensen’s boat on the island, Lowe transported Jorgensen to shore in his boat.
Once ashore, Lowe got the shivering Jorgensen to his car and turned on the heat. He called Jorgensen’s wife to let her know what had happened and that he was all right now.
‘I’m just glad I was there to help,? Lowe said.
When township officials presented Lowe with the resolution, a grateful Jorgensen hugged him and told officials, ‘This guy, he saved my life.?