Teenager rescues man after boat overturns on Lake
Lonsdale (Australia) <!--
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A TEENAGER is set to be nominated for a heroism award
after swimming 800m in freezing water to save a middle-aged mate
from certain drowning. <!--
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The 17-year-old youth Daniel Hobbson used a child's plastic
blow-up swim ring to rescue a 43-year-old man who had fallen out of
a tinny in the middle of Lake Lonsdale in Stawell in the state's
west.
Daniel Hobbson is set to be nominated for
heroism after swimming 800m in the freezing waters of Lake Lonsdale
to save his mate. Adrian Pearce who managed to swim to shore,
congratulates his friend.
It took nearly 40 minutes for Daniel to tow his
friend back to shore, authorities said.
Three men had been in the boat in the middle of the lake when it
overturned about 7.30pm last night.
Ararat Sgt Brad Bennett described Daniel as a hero.
"He did put himself at risk. He ended up suffering hypothermia
himself just by rescuing this guy, and without him this guy would
have drowned without doubt,'' Sgt Bennett said.
"The guy said when he came in that he'd given up and he was
prepared to go under but he saw the young kid swimming out and
wasn't far, so he tried to hang on for another minute or two and
that saved his life.
"He was really struggling, and he said, 'I'd given up but I just
saw the little rubber tube coming towards me', so he decided to try
and hang on for a little bit longer.''
Sgt Bennett said Mr Hobbson was camping with the men and other
friends at a house nearby.
Mr Hobbson had stayed on the shore while the three men went out
in the boat, which capsized after one of the men leaned over the
side.
Sgt Bennett said Mr Hobbson swam out to the man when he saw him
struggling
"He's probably swum at least 800m in freezing water to go out
there and drag this guy back.
"And it took a long time for them to get back because the guy is
quite large, just a 17-year-old kid dragging him back with a rubber
tube.''
He said the pair took at least 30-40 minutes to get back to
shore.
"I don't think I could have done it, I'm not physically fit
enough to have done it, he's done an amazing job.''
Mr Hobbson, the 43-year-old man and another two men aged 20 and
33 were all treated for hypothermia and released from hospital last
night.
All four men were from Sebastopol, outside Ballarat.
Sgt Bennett said he would ensure the boy was recognised for his
efforts and would recommend him for a heroism award.