MEDICAL EMERGENCY -? (The Rest of the Story)

THERE'S MORE TO THE STORY!
MISSOURI STATE WATER PATROL TROOPERS - MORE THAN JUST "BUI'S" AND "TICKETS" -

Crewman Rick Anthony checking the tow length on our "prize" we just found abandoned :-)

Last weekend the media briefly mentioned some "Boat Wake Injuries".  It sounds quite routine, not to exciting.   The Official News Release about one particular incident from the Missouri State Highway Patrol (HERE) was, (as expected) pretty "Ho-Hum" and "Just the Facts _ _".  Of course there were few witnesses to what really took place.  As usual,  the "letter's" and "comments" on the various media "blogs" and "papers" continue to harp on "TO MUCH ENFORCEMENT!" "TO MANY BUI'S", "WHY DON'T THEY LEAVE US ALONE - -" and on and on.  The above incident was a little more than routine - -.  As described in the release, a 43 year old woman had injured her back from being thrown in the air on a deck boat and landing back down on the boat hard enough to injure her back.  She had to have medical attention.  The boating traffic was extremely heavy in the area causing large waves, confused chop and a small local thunderstorm was developing with winds in excess of 25 mph.  Two State Patrol boats located the vessel carrying the woman who was in extreme pain and the officers were attempting to get the boat and woman to medical attention ashore as soon as possible.  One of the officer's had to abandon his boat and be put aboard the deck boat to provide help to the woman.  They were going to attempt to cross the lake to the Lake Ozark side where medical attention could get to the woman quicker.  Due to rough water, they were unable to cross.  We were about a mile away and proceeded to assist.  On scene, we found the patrol boat, about 400 foot from shore in a 25 mph wind and drifting rapidly toward a rocky shore.  We hooked up and took the Patrol Boat in tow, meanwhile the Troopers and the distressed vessel made it to a dock on the SUNRISE BEACH side and were attending to the injured woman while waiting for FIRE & EMS to arrive.  The location would require the woman be carried up the bluff over 100 ft on a backboard.  TOWBOAT Crewman and Fire Fighter, Rick Anthony was dropped off to assist in getting the woman up the hill and to the ambulance.  This whole scenario took nearly an hour, after which the Troopers came back to drop off our crewman and retrieve their boat (Damn!)  - - This was not the first time we have gathered up drifting Patrol Boats due to emergency situations.  The Troopers are almost always "first on the scene" and don't think twice about jumping in the water to assist someone in trouble or jumping aboard a boat to perform CPR and first aid.  It isn't exactly a "Stellar" career move to abandon a rather expensive piece of equipment  which may wind up being a beach ornament or a very costly "crappie bed" - - but when a life, safety or injuries to others are at stake they don't put themselves FIRST - -.  The next time your sitting down to write a comment about the "Enforcement" just remember;  One day, you may find yourself lying injured in the bottom of your boat or gasping for air, having been dumped in the water and looking in to the face of a TROOPER who is going to make EVERY EFFORT TO GET YOU TO SAFETY -- WELL DONE GUYS!!  HATS OFF - -!