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| The Milton-Madison Bridge |
On Tuesday, July 16th, Walsh Construction boat operator and 20-year construction industry veteran
Bruce Cornelius heard a cry for help as he navigated his vessel down the Ohio River. He spotted a kayaker that had flipped over just 200 feet away from the Milton-Madison Bridge project site. The man had anchored in hopes of fishing that morning but his kayak flipped over and sank, leaving him fighting to stay afloat in the river's swift current.
"The current was just too strong and his tight anchor line pulled him under," Bruce recalled as he approached the scene. To Bruce's surprise, the gentleman, a man in his 30's known as "Steve," was not wearing a life jacket.
"The first thing I did was throw him a rope. Then I ran to the back of the boat and grabbed a life preserver." Once Bruce was sure the man was safely buoyed, he pulled the rescued man safely downstream. "I told him to just relax and hold on to the rope," Cornelius assured the kayaker. "He was extremely winded - we needed to get him to safety."
After Bruce and his co-workers pulled the man out of the water, Walsh Safety Manager
Travis Montgomery examined the man and sat with him until he was strong enough to leave. The kayak and other items were recovered and brought to shore by
Hank Skipper, Walsh Construction tow boat operator. No medical attention was required at the scene.
The Milton-Madison Bridge spans the Ohio River to connect the towns of Milton, KY and Madison, IN. Boat traffic is common on the Ohio River and has been a constant point of concern for the Milton-Madison team.
Thanks to the vigilance, preparedness and quick reaction of Bruce Cornelius and the Walsh Milton-Madison Bridge Team, the kayaker's life was saved.
Thank you for making safety your first priority!
