Boater Rescued From Icy Niagara

Here is another story about that boater rescued from the river.. What was he doing is the question. Trying to cross the river on that side of Grand Island especially in this frigid weather is nuts. This side of the river is where illegal Chinese cross all the time too. The Border Patrol keep a close eye over here. I don’t think they watch it to closely during the winter.

Apparently he had a whole bunch of cash on him and said he was coming over to pay some Bills? Sounds very strange to me.

Grand Island Fire Company
Boater Rescued From Icy Niagara Through Firefighter/State Police Teamwork – 2007
By Ray Pauley, Public Information Officer

When Bob Redfearn settled down for his Monday morning cup of coffee shortly before 7 a.m. Monday, February 5, 2007 in the back patio of his East River Road residence, he noticed something peculiar, several hundred feet out in the Niagara River. Using binoculars, he discovered a boater frantically trying to break free from a drifting ice flow where he was trapped, and quickly called for 911 emergency assistance.

Grand Island Fire Company Chief Greg Butcher confirmed that Wayne Kingwell, 40, of Fort Erie, Ontario was spotted by rescue personnel as he moved down river in a small rubber raft near the foot of Winkler and East River roads. GIFC Assistant Chief Chris Soluri and NYS Troopers Tim Roof and Bryan Pasderski were successful in pulling Kingwell onto a dock after he had managed to paddle close to shore ice. He told his rescuers that he had been out on the river for “over five hours” in sub zero temperatures while trying to reach the USA to make a business transaction. After treatment by GIFC medics for hypothermia (exposure) he was transported to Mt. St. Mary’s Hospital for additional medical attention.

Chief Butcher stated that all GIFC units returned in service at 8:06 a.m.