Kentucky responders get national award for river rescue

RICHMOND, Ky. (WKYT) - Three central Kentucky emergency responders got national recognition for their efforts to rescue a boater, trapped on a river.

Officers Patrick Younts and Richard Waite of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife's Division of Law Enforcement, and Lieutenant Robert Mink of the Madison County Rescue Squad, Inc., received commendations for bravery from the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). The three were commended for their actions during the rescue of a man from a boating accident on August 8, 2011.

The incident occurred when a pontoon boat became trapped below the low head dam at Lock 11 on the Kentucky River. Officers Younts and Waite, and Lieutenant Mink, placed themselves at significant risk to rescue the boat operator, who was suffering from hypothermia and at risk of drowning.

The awards were presented on behalf of NASBLA by Hank Patton, the director of the Division of Law Enforcement, on Monday in Richmond.

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