The quick actions of a local Detroit family and the crew of the J.W. Westcott II are being officially recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard after their heroic efforts in two separate incidents saved the lives of individuals from the treacherous waters of the Detroit River last summer. According to a report by FOX 2 Detroit, the U.S. Coast Guard bestowed the Captain David P. Dobbins Award for excellence in search and rescue to the heroes involved in the dramatic rescues.
On July 12, 2023, a Canadian steelworker named Spencer Baker endured a 140-foot fall from the Ambassador Bridge and plunged into the river below. Luckily, Bernita Flowers, her daughter Terri George, and granddaughter Tionne George happened to be near the scene. They spotted the worker as he hit the water, and then counted on their collective instincts to get help. "We were like, 'Oh my God, somebody has fallen. Let’s go ask for help,’" Flowers described, remembering the urgency of the moment in an interview with FOX 2 Detroit.
Captain Sam Buchanan and crew member Albert Holland of the J.W. Westcott II rapidly responded to the family's alert. They located Baker, who had sustained broken bones from his fall, and swiftly transferred him to receive medical attention. Buchanan, a seasoned mariner on the Detroit River with 40 seasons under his belt, humbly reflected on his part in the rescue, "If I can be just a small part of that, that makes me happy," he explained in a statement obtained by FOX 2 Detroit.
Not even two weeks passed before Buchanan and his crew were called upon once again. On July 22, they successfully rescued a fisherman who had tumbled over the shoreline retaining wall into the Detroit River. This time, maneuvered the J.W. Westcott II skillfully into position to save the individual from being carried away by the currents, as detailed by WWJ Newsradio 950. Captain Richard Armstrong of the USCG highlighted the significance of their actions, saying, "Thank you Capt. Buchanan, Al Holland, Bernita Flowers, Tionne George, from preventing that number, that statistic from being 82 and 83."
The awards ceremony, which took place at 1 p.m. at the J.W. Westcott office in Detroit, served not only to commend the bravery of these individuals but also to reflect on the legacy of service as embodied by Captain David P. Dobbins. The J.W. Westcott II and the local family's vigilance undoubtedly saved lives, while Captain Buchanan is already poised for the coming season on the water, ready to intervene, should the need arise, as reported by WXYZ.
