In a twist of fate that turned a training exercise into a life-saving mission, a Prescott man owes his life to swift water rescue crews who were in the right place at the right time. Bill Davis, a 75-year-old man, was enjoying a casual float down the river with his wife when he was unexpectedly swept away by the current and left struggling to stay afloat. In details reported by FOX 10 Phoenix, the couple had gotten separated, leading to the perilous situation that nearly cost Davis his life.
According to 12 News, Davis attempted to pull over and wait for his wife, misjudging the depth of the water and the strength of the current in the process. "I kept going under. And finally, I just ran out of strength," Davis told 12 News. He lost consciousness and was swept downstream, where his inert form drifted into the path of the first responders.
The fortuitous encounter occurred during the crews' training exercise at the Phon D. Sutton Recreation Area, including personnel from the Mesa, Chandler, and Salt River fire departments. "This lady was yelling from the shore, ‘there is a guy up there with no vitals,’ and I just knew it was him," Glenna Davis, Bill's wife, recounted in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix. Mesa Fire Engineer Colin Shaffery and his colleagues quickly shifted from rehearsal to reality, hauling Davis from the water and administering CPR.
"Somebody grabbing me from the back, that was the last thing I remember," Davis said in an interview with FOX 10 Phoenix. Once crews brought him to safety, Davis was discovered to have no water in his lungs and, after a short stay in the hospital, he was able to make a full recovery. The grateful survivor and his wife were able to thank the team in person on August 21, as reported by both outlets. "Daughters have their dad. A wife has her husband," said Mesa Fire Captain Matt Kobylinski, encapsulating the gravity of the situation and the immense relief that followed.
Davis now advocates for the use of life jackets on the river, a safety measure he had forgone on what was intended to be a leisurely float. Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman referred to the successful rescue as "divine intervention," echoing the sentiment of many that the confluence of events leading to Davis' rescue was nothing short of miraculous, a per 12 News. Davis has expressed no intention of returning to the river, but his experience serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of open water and the importance of preparedness and caution.
