Ted Kennedy Attempts Daring Rescue At Sea
U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy tried to save six fishermen stranded on a breakwater near the Kennedy compound yesterday, but had to turn back and hand the rescue off to the fire department. Kennedy called the Hyannis Fire Department around 11 a.m. when he saw the fishermen on the breakwater as waves up to 5 feet high crashed over it and winds gusted to 35 mph. The 69-year-old senator took out his flask whaler and got within earshot of the fishermen, but headed back because it was too dangerous, Hyannis Fire Capt. Craig Farrenkopf said. ``The senator was just coming into the dock on a whaler, he told us it was rough out there,'' Farrenkopf said. Farrenkopf said Kennedy is familiar with the water and ``thought he would do the right thing.''
Familiar with the water. Couldn't have said it better myself.
``He realized it was beyond his realm of handling the incident,'' Farrenkopf said.
...having been there before.
The men were fishing a couple hundred yards off shore near the Kennedy compound when the incoming tide stranded them. Firefighters made three trips to the breakwater, rescuing the fishermen two at a time. The fishermen were treated for minor hypothermia. Normally when a Kennedy goes into the water, somebody dies... |
Posted by: Raj 2005-10-17 |