The waters of Brushy Creek are not new territory for Ben Westcott, of Webster City. He spends days out there for hours at a time. So Thursday’s nearly three-hour ride was no exception. Wescott said: “I decided to go out and catch some waves with the kayak for a thrill, but the unusual thing happened when his kayak capsized with his life jacket stuck to his side. in. “I knew there was no way to save it, so I just pushed myself out.” He was in the water, half a mile from shore, with no one else in sight. “I swam back, it was the only way I could swim in the direction of the tree,” Westcott said. But that swim wasn’t easy with the branches underwater – and the waves. “The second time I was pushed underwater, I think that’s all,” Westcott said. “I thought I was gone.” But then he remembered something his drill sergeant was going to tell him. “He just told me to keep going and that’s what I keep doing,” he said. With one hand clinging to a tree branch – with the other he often typed Snapchat messages on a water-filled phone to ask friends to call for help. two DNR staff to respond. “My first thought was, thank goodness we’ve got the boat hooked up and we’ve got to get there and get him out,” Spece said. “Matt took his hand and I put the boat in a neutral position and moved forward and we put him on board,” Spece said. “I feel relieved,” Westcott said. Spece said: For Wescott – his message was simple – life jackets: “No matter how grotesque it seems, it’s definitely worth it, have it on,” he said. More from Kayla James:
The waters of Brushy Creek are not new territory for Ben Westcott, of Webster City.
He spends days out there for hours at a time. So Thursday’s nearly three-hour ride was no exception.
“I decided to go out and catch some waves with my thrilling kayak,” says Westcott.
But the unusual thing happened when his kayak capsized with his life jacket stuck inside.
“I knew it was going to end,” Westcott said.
He was in the water, half a mile from shore, with no one else in sight.
“I swam back, it was the only way I could swim in the direction of the tree,” Westcott said.
But that swim wasn’t easy with the branches in the water – and the waves.
“The second I was pushed into the water, I think that’s all,” Westcott said.
But then he remembered something his drill sergeant was going to tell him.
“He just told me to keep going and that’s what I keep doing,” he said.
He walked 400 yards until he came to a tree. With one hand he clung to a tree branch – with the other he typed Snapchat messages on his waterlogged phone, asking friends to call for help.
He turned on his phone speaker so he could dial 911.
Dialogue Officer Bill Spece was one of two DNR employees to respond.
“My first thought was, thank goodness we’ve got the boat hooked up and we’ve got to get there and get him out,” Spece said.
When they reached the ramp, it took three to four minutes to get to Westcott.
“Matt took his hand and I put the boat in neutral and moved forward and we put him on board,” Spece said.
“I feel relieved,” Westcott said.
Spece said Thursday’s winds brought waves as high as 2 feet, making it difficult for kayakers.
“You need to be in a secluded area where there’s a little bay out of the way,” says Spece.
For Westcott – his message was simple – life jackets:
“No matter how odd it seems, it’s definitely worth it, have it,” he said.
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