Horseshoe Bay first responders recognized for Lake LBJ rescue
The first responders receiving their award during the Horseshoe Bay council meeting. Assistant Fire Chief Stephanie Black (left), Jeff Walker (one of the rescued boaters), Lieutenant Jason Blackmon, and Fire Chief Doug Fowler. Courtesy photo of City of Horseshoe Bay.
The Horseshoe Bay City Council honored four first responders June 17 for rescuing 11 people from a disabled pontoon boat on Lake LBJ during severe weather in May.
Lt. Jason Blackmon, and firefighters Josiah Villarreal and Asa Oliver received a Unit Citation Bar for their rescue roles while commanding Engine 12. Capt. Ben Miller received the Medal of Merit for rescuing the boat’s occupants. The awards were presented by Jeff Walker, one of the people rescued.
“They did a great thing and they deserve recognition,” Horseshoe Bay Fire Chief Doug Fowler said of the team.
The rescue began at 8:44 p.m. on May 10 after a pontoon boat, launching out of Granite Shoals, lost power and began drifting on Lake LBJ in wind gusts exceeding 40 mph and waves of 3 to 4 feet, according to Chief Fowler.
The boat carried 11 people, including eight children ages 7 to 17, and three adults.
Granite Shoals police were initially contacted when the boat was between Horseshoe Bay and Granite Shoals, but determined weather conditions were too severe. Llano County ESD No. 5 later reached the same conclusion.
Capt. Miller determined it was too dangerous to deploy the department’s inflatable swiftwater rescue boat and instead launched the larger Horseshoe Bay police boat. Despite heavy rain, strong winds and limited communications, Miller located the disabled vessel and towed it to Applehead Island Drive.
Engine 12 personnel met the boat at shore, treated injuries, helped passengers off the vessel and transported several people to the fire station to await pickup by family members.
Fowler praised the 911 dispatcher who remained in contact with passengers during the emergency.
“The 911 operator did a great job on keeping them engaged and keeping them from focusing on a stressful situation,” Fowler told DailyTrib.
During the council meeting, Fowler played a recording from the incident in which a teenage girl aboard the boat said, “I don’t want to die.”
Fowler said the area is developing a new coordinated response plan for water rescues ahead of the Fourth of July holiday in a “renewed effort” to improve future operations.