"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.

The mission of The Walsh Group is to be the builder of choice for our customers; the employer of choice for our people; to set the highest standards for ethics, quality and safety; and to achieve a fair balance of responsibility, profitability and citizenship.