<figure style="display: block; margin-bottom: 1rem;"><img width="925" height="617" src=" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Rapid current in river." data-portal-copyright="River water | JoelBoily via iStockPhoto" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset=" 1600w, ?w=300&h=200 300w, ?w=768&h=513 768w, ?w=1024&h=684 1024w, ?w=1536&h=1025 1536w, ?w=90&h=60 90w, ?w=902&h=602 902w" sizes="(max-width: 925px) 100vw, 925px" /><figcaption class="wp-media-credit">River water | JoelBoily via iStockPhoto</figcaption></figure><img width="150" height="150" src="?w=150&h=150&crop=1" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Rapid current in river." decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="?w=150&h=150 150w, ?w=100&h=100 100w, ?w=200&h=200 200w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /><p id="par-1_52">It’s any fisherman’s nightmare: Your boat begins to take on water and sink, the current around you is too fast to swim, and no one can hear you scream for help. This nightmare became a reality for two men on the Susquehanna River on Memorial Day. Luckily, their neighbors had their back.</p>
<p id="par-2_51">Joel Esch and Jason Hoover took to the water to enjoy their long weekend. The day on the river started like any other. But as the weather grew worse, the river cleared out. Soon, there were no other boats in sight. At that moment, their craft began to fill with water.</p>
<p id="par-3_22">Esch said, “I thought we were pretty much done because that current is pretty wicked. And I didn’t think anybody was around.”</p>
<p id="par-4_31">Despite everything the fisherman did, their boat sank out from beneath them. Soon, they were in the water and screaming for help they doubted would arrive. Then, miraculously, another boat appeared.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large" id="emb-1"><img decoding="async" width="1600" height="1067" src=" alt="Pontoon boat on a river" class="wp-image-1706647" srcset=" 1600w, ?w=300&h=200 300w, ?w=768&h=512 768w, ?w=1024&h=683 1024w, ?w=1536&h=1024 1536w, ?w=90&h=60 90w, ?w=902&h=602 902w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pontoon boat | csfotoimages via iStockPhoto</figcaption></figure>
<p id="par-5_55">Army veteran Mark Lattanzi was out on his pontoon boat with his friends and family. He said, “We were actually on the phone with the marina about to head back in just due to the weather. And one of my friends pointed out that there was a boat calling for help right next to us.”</p>
<p id="par-6_22">Esch remembered the moment their rescuers arrived. “I saw those people on that pontoon. Thank God for them, I’ll tell you what.”</p>
<p id="par-7_72">The Lattanzis dropped their anchor and dove into the water to pull the fisherman to safety. Mark Lattanzi said it was his privilege to help out. “Our family is based on service…I’m just glad I was there to help them. And it feels good to know that I, you know, possibly saved their life.” In many ways, the rescue was a full-circle moment for the family. Gillian Lattanzi told the whole story.</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p>“Many years ago, my mom and I were on the Susquehanna River kayaking, and my mom got stuck on a rock. I was trying to paddle to her, and our friend was, and we weren’t able to get to her, and two fishermen saved her and brought her on their boat. So, we just know how scary the Susquehanna River can be. The fact that we were able to help other people that were in distress, it just felt really good.”</p>
<cite>Gillian Lattanzi</cite></blockquote>
<p id="par-8_67">Hoover and Esch later recovered their boat. They are still not positive what caused it to go down. Hoover was grateful too, saying, “You know, both of our lives were spared. That’s what counts.” Esch had a piece of advice for other fisherman braving the Susquehanna River, “Always wear your life jacket. No matter how good of a swimmer you are, that sucked. That current was wicked.”</p>
<p id="par-9_11">Next, see the fisherman and Lattanzis interviewed in the video below:</p>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio" id="emb-2"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Fishermen rescued by good Samaritans after boat sinks in Susquehanna River" width="925" height="520" src=" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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