CO saves a kids life......

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DNR conservation officer has the right stuff to save a young man’s life (January 16, 2009)

While Minnesotans hunkered down Monday evening (Jan. 12) for the coldest night of the season thus far, a Minnesota conservation officer braved dangerous temperatures, wind chills and freezing water to rescue a teenage boy from almost certain death.

Adam Bolkert, 19, of Winona was taking a shortcut home from Riverway Learning Community School when he fell through the ice of the Mississippi River backwaters near Minnesota City, Minn.

Bolkert was able to pull himself from the river and found temporary refuge on a nearby island where he made a 911 call from his cell phone to the Winona County Sheriff’s Office. They contacted Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Officer Tom Hemker of Winona, who knew the area the call came from, and possessed the right equipment to make a rescue.

“The sheriff’s office has a program that brings up an address and a GPS location on all calls, so they pinpointed the location near Minnesota City, which I know real well,” Hemker said. “With that vital information, and an airboat in tow, I knew we were in business.” Hemker made his way to the Pool 5-A landing on the river.

But with 4-6 inches of fresh snow, the airboat was frozen to the trailer. Hemker tried to free the airboat by driving backwards and then slamming on the brakes, but it didn’t work.

Two Winona police officers helped push the airboat off the trailer while Hemker worked a pry-bar. “I could not have removed the airboat from the trailer by myself, I can’t thank those officers enough.”

With the sun beginning to set, temps dropping fast and the wind starting to pick up, Hemker put the airboat into the river and about 20 minutes later, found a cold, soaked, disoriented Bolkert.

“It was completely dark when I brought him in and the snow was swirling to the point where if the rescue had started a half-hour later vision would have gone from 50 yards to 10 feet,” Hemeker said. “You couldn’t see anything. Absolutely amazing that Adam is alive.”

A waiting ambulance at the landing met the conservation officer and Bolkert. The teen was taken to Community Memorial Hospital in Winona.

“I was almost afraid to hear what the news was going to be when I picked him up, but last I heard he’s going to be fine,” Hemker said

Hemker said it’s just another example of DNR having the right equipment for the job.

“Airboats are the only things can get you into and out of a situation like that,” he said. “If DNR didn’t have them, I have no idea how we would have rescued him. What an unbelievable piece of equipment.”

[kingfisher1]

I read this when I was in winona earlier this week.  Great Job the the CO!

[sandmannd]

Great story, my hat goes off to the CO. It's always good to hear al lthe good these folks do for us. 

[Bobby Bass]

I am somewhat surprise at the lack of posts on this string. Here a CO with the proper equipment and help was able to save a person life or at the very least prevent serious harm and no one is talking about it. However if a CO gives a warning out for a fishing violation there are many posts regarding whether the CO was doing his job or not. If an ice house is broken into there will sure to be complains as to why the CO was not on the ice to prevent the break in. Just thought these guys should get some credit for the job they do. I'll bet family and friends are looking a little different when they see that DNR air boat on the trailer now.

[dakids]

Law enforcment officers have a thankless job. Hats off to them!!!

[kingfisher1]

Law enforcment officers have a thankless job. Hats off to them!!!

that they do!!  Especially CO's.  They are way over-worked and WAY underpaid!  I looked into becoming a CO, and it takes a 4 year degree, passing the MN POST test (up to a year extra schooling), and then 6-12 weeks of extra training, to take a job that starts out around $23,000/year. 

[bowhunter73]

  If a bridge falls beneath you, your plane lands in a river, or you just make a bad mistake crossing a half froze river, and fall in.
  It seems many times an American hero will step forward. I do not believe they do it because its there job. They do it because they are great people, on and off the job. So I send out a big thanks to all of them. Especially to the ones who never ended up in the news or even wanted to be there!


                  Thank you   

[JCAMERON]

I bet nobody is questioning the money spent on the air boats now. Granted if it was used to ticket some jack someone would. Way to go CO, glad to hear the kid is AOK.