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| 5/22/2009 9:37:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Lt. Dave Jaeger of the town of Minocqua police department, holds the vest that chief Andy Gee was wearing when the chief was involved in a boating accident on Lake Minocqua Sunday. Gee was thrown from his boat while the motor was running.
Heather Holmes photo |
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Life vest is police chief's life saver
Weekend accident gives chief new outlook on life
Life jackets save lives - just ask town of Minocqua police chief Andy Gee.
Gee is recovering at Howard Young Medical Center from chest and arm injuries he suffered in a boating accident on Lake Minocqua early Sunday evening.
Gee credits his life jacket for preventing him from suffering more severe injuries in the incident which included his being thrown from his boat about 5 p.m. in the area of Stack's Bay.
According to Gee, he was teaching his 10-year-old son how to operate the boat and was sitting along side him on the rear seat and was helping with the tiller.
"He just hit the gas a little too fast and it threw me over the back of the boat," Gee said.
Gee said he was plunged into the water and tried to avoid contact with the boat motor's propeller.
"The propeller caught me on the arm and chest," said Gee. "But because I was wearing the vest I only received superficial cuts to my chest and arm."
Gee did have what he called "minor surgery" performed on his arm, but he said none of the injuries are life threatening.
According to the chief, it took him about one-half hour to maneuver himself and the boat into a position so he could get back into the craft.
"Luckily the winds helped me push the boat closer to a boggy area where I was able to get a good enough footing to climb back in," Gee said.
I called for help while I was in the water, but there was no one else around."
Once back into the boat Gee and his son were able to drive the boat back to shore and to the Brunswick boat landing.
"We were lucky. Once we were at the boat landing a couple helped us get our boat in and the woman then drove me home," Gee said. "Once I was home my wife drove me to the hospital.
"I'm just glad I had my vest on because it helped stop the prop from giving me more severe injuries."
Gee said he was told that he would remain in the hospital at least through Thursday (yesterday). After returning home from his hospital stay he said it's yet to be determined how long he'll have to remain off duty.
While Gee recuperates Lt. Dave Jaeger is charge of the department.
"But I'm just a phone call away," Gee said.
Gee said he was proud of his son for remaining calm throughout the incident and being able to stop the boat once he fell into the water.
Lt. Jaeger said when he visited Gee in the hospital the chief indicated the accident had given him "a whole new outlook on life."
Joe VanDeLaarschot can be reached at jvandelaarschot@lakelandtimes.com.
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