Dan Carlock, 45, was left in the ocean off of Orange County by his scuba diving group Sunday. Carlock (pictured, right) drifted for hours about seven miles offshore. Carlock noted the time of day on his small, waterproof writing slate and took photographs of himself to document that he'd made it to the surface.
Five hours later, a 15-year-old crew trainee, Zack Mayberry, stood watch on the stern of the tall ship Argus, which was full of Boy Scouts from Rancho Bernardo who returning to Newport Beach from Santa Catalina Island.
Mayberry saw something in the water and grabbed his binoculars.
The 15 scouts from Rancho Bernardo Troop 681 had drilled the rescue procedure the previous day and the rescue operation began.
"We've always drilled, whenever you go on a ship we always drill man-overboard procedures," scout Tim Carroll told NBC 7/39. "Every crew member on board the ship instantly followed the man-overboard procedures."
"Life rings were flying out, and I saw a speck in the water. I thought, 'This isn't a drill,'" said scout Dan Carroll.
The scouts pulled Carlock aboard the Argus. The diver said that he thought back to his own training in the Boy Scouts "to kind of be aware, alert and think of alternatives, keep those in mind and work through them."
"I just find it amazing that we found him, and that he was still alive, even though he had a wet suit on," scout Tyler Underwood said.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Collin Croft says, "The Scouts definitely saved this man's life."
"I feel like I accomplished something. I'm proud of myself for it," Dan Carroll said. "I just hope this guy is feeling good about being saved by us, too."
Meanwhile, Coast Guard investigators plan to interview employees of the dive company in Marina Del Rey that took Carlock on the dive. They want to find out why Carlock was left behind.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/3247848/detail.html
local boy scout troop was recently involved in an amazing story of heroism that involves a will to survive, teamwork and a remarkable recovery.
Six weeks ago, a Cincinnati State student from Anderson Township suffered severe brain damage after falling 150 feet off a cliff in Kentucky's Red River Gorge State Park.
In the early morning hours of May 22, David Scheller's life changed forever.
The star soccer player free-fell, down a cliff fracturing his skull and vertebrae. Scheller lay there for hours until his brother, John, realized he was missing.
John said he heard moans coming from below the campsite and soon afterwards his worst fears were realized.
Fortunately, the boy scouts from All Saints Church in Kenwood happened to be in the area.
"He'd go in and out of consciousness and when he'd wake up, he'd be groaning in great pain," recounted Dan Teegarden, assistant scoutmaster of the troop.
During the five-hour rescue, some of the troops trekked through the Gorge to get help, leading rescue workers to Scheller, while others put their first aid skills -- learned in scouts -- to the ultimate test until the EMS crew could get Scheller out.
"Not one of us saved his life, but us as a whole saved his life. That's what makes me feel good that we worked as a troop and not individuals," said Shawn Carroll, a boy scout.
Scheller was in a coma for three days and his remarkable recovery has even surprised doctors.
Despite the long and uncertain road ahead he wanted everyone to know what a beautiful place the Gorge still is to him.
The Scheller family said they hope the boy scouts tell their story to anyone who will listen. It's a story they hope will show other young men -- a group most at risk for brain injuries -- that no one is invincible and that alcohol and the Gorge don't mix.
"There's the saying boys will be boys. This can be the result of drinking and having a good time," said Matt Teegarden, a boy scout who was at the scene.
David's parents said they hope to see improved safety measures at the Gorge in the future, like emergency telephones, maps or even a cellular tower -- all features they believe could save someone's life.
"Everybody's learned lessons that we'll keep for the rest of our lives and nobody will ever forget what happened that day," said Bob Carroll, said the troop's scoutmaster.
http://www.wcpo.com/news/2004/local/06/30/gorge.html
Many many more.. dont put down the scouts... Id rather have an eagle scout perform emergency surgery on me than the most tenured FA in the world.. By the way.. all scouts are less than 19 years old...
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