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RAY SCOTT OUTDOORS, Inc. News Release
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Luke Dunkin's daring
rescue saves WHEELER LAKE DAM, Alabama - A very unlikely hero. That's 18 year old University of North Alabama freshman Luke Dunkin of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Until Friday afternoon, October 26th, if you'd asked Luke the meaning of a "hero," he'd most likely describe one of his longtime boyhood bass fishing heroes, like the legendary four-time world champion Rick Clunn or current BASS Masters Classic titleholder, Kevin Van Dam. A first-semester student with an eye on a marketing degree, Luke's ultimate goal is to challenge his "heroes" on the professional bass fishing tournament trail. His life-long passion for going bass fishing saved the life of 55-year old Robert Justice of Opelika, Alabama in a daring rescue from the waters of the treacherous Tennessee River below the Wheeler Lake Dam. With wind gusts over 40 miles per hour, only a dedicated bass fisherman, like Luke Dunkin, would even be at the lake. His was the only boat trailer parked in the TVA ramp below the dam at "Safe Harbor" launch. "I'd finished classes for the week," explained Luke, who had pulled his 16-foot aluminum Triton boat from home that morning. "The weather front had the winds howling, and I promised my mother I'd just stay in the protected area at the ramp and not take any chances." Inside the tree-lined backwaters, Luke worked the five-acres, hooking and losing a four-pound smallmouth at the narrow mouth of the harbor. "If I'd not hooked that fish on a crank bait, I'd not stayed at the mouth and heard what sounded like a cry for 'Help'," explained Dunkin. With the windy conditions and the crashing waves, Luke wasn't positive he'd heard a distressed cry. "Then, a cooler floated by and I got concerned." About 500 yards, out in the middle of the river, Dunkin caught a glimpse of something "red" amid the 5 to 6-foot swells and definitely recognized a plea for "Help." There was no doubt someone in a red jacket was in serious trouble. Despite the danger, Luke didn't hesitate. He made an instant decision to plow into the face of the stormy waters. "There was no one else to help," explained Dunkin, who didn't flinch or "get frightened" until the first wave crashed over the bow of his 16-foot, lightweight aluminum craft. A present from his parents last May upon graduation from high school, Luke wanted the Triton model 1650 CC (center console) for fishing small lakes and shallow, rocky river areas. Powered with a 40 horsepower Mercury jet drive the rig can maneuver in less than six inches of water. But, that' hardly the rig equipped to battle a raging river. "It seemed like forever before I could get to see what was happening," said Dunkin. Barely visible in the waves was the bow of a swamped Stryker bass boat. Clinging to life was Robert Justice. But, more alarming was what Luke Dunkin heard and witnessed. Tied to the bow rope was a man, face down in the water. "My buddy's already drowned, and I'm about gone," said Justice. "Okay," said Luke. "Try not to panic. I'm going to get my boat to you. Hang on." With the water temperature near 50 degrees and Robert Justice starting to succumb to the effects of hypothermia, Luke Dunkin realized he needed help. Grabbing his mobile phone, Luke dialed 911 for emergency, "but the operator couldn't understand where I was located," said Dunkin. Robert Justice was trying to hold onto the side of Luke's boat, but couldn't pull himself over the gunnel. "In desperation, I put the trolling motor over the bow and told him to hold on." Justice's 200-pounds was more than Luke could pull over the side. "Finally he managed to get a leg up over the side," continued Luke, "and I grabbed his belt and wrestled him onto the front deck." But, the trial of terror was far from over. Waves crashed over the boat and strained the spewing bilge pump to keep up. Slowly, Luke Dunkin managed to make the white-knuckle trip the half-mile distance back to the safety of the harbor. But, almost 30 minutes elapsed before an emergency vehicle arrived. "I'd got a blanket from my truck and tried to keep him warm. He was having uncontrollable shakes," Dunkin related. Justice and his fishing partner, 76-year old Joe Newman of Gurley, had been fishing behind an island near the Wheeler Dam on Lake Wilson. They attempted to cross the big water to the south shore. The tale race below Wheeler Dam is regarded as "treacherous, the most dangerous" when conditions are bad. Besides the gusty winds, the TVA reportedly had four turbines operating, creating a strong current and riptide with the wind. Both Justice and Newman were wearing required personal flotation devices, the Type III foam vests approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. But, this type life vest will not support an unconscious wearer in an upright position. On the other hand, Luke Dunkin was wearing the newest inflatable lifejacket, the SOSPENDERS by Sporting Lives, a Christmas gift from his folks. "In that rough water, I was getting nervous, but had confidence if we swamped, my inflatable would keep my head up," he said. Rescue officials, using a helicopter, recovered the body of Joe Newman, the 15th fatality in a boating accident on Alabama waters this year. Cause of his death had not been determined as to a drowning or a heart attack. Robert Justice was treated at a local hospital and released. As for Luke Dunkin, "He's a hero," said Alabama Marine Police Lt. Roy Ellis. "He saved that man's life at great risk to himself. He definitely risked his own life to do what he did. He performed a great deed." The modest 18-year old reflected on his actions: "I don't know if I'd call myself a hero. That's pretty strong. I'm just glad I was there and able to be of help." "An 'Unlikely Hero', a bass fishing youngster cast into a desperate situation, but with the courage to be a man," commented Ray Scott, founder of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), who had talked with the aspiring basser many times. "We first met while Luke was working part-time at Charlie Brewer's Slider Company in Lawrenceburg this past spring," recalls Scott. "Luke asked a lot of questions about what it takes to make it as a pro bass angler. "My first suggestion," continued Scott, "was to tell Luke to go ahead and attend college, get a degree, learn some marketing and business skills and fish local and bass club tournaments to improve his fishing skills. "Sounds like he's following right along with such a game plan," noted Scott, who traveled to Wilson Lake to pay tribute to Luke Dunkin after reading an Associated Press report on the rescue. "It took raw courage to do what that boy did," continued Scott. "He put his own life in harm's way to save another's." Scott, an outspoken advocate for boating safety, serves as a national spokesman for the Fruitland, Idaho-based manufacturers of the inflatable SOSPENDERS lifevest. "It's the best insurance policy you can buy - against drowning - if you fish or boat," declared Scott. "The type III foam vest will not support an unconscious user in an upright position and the head out of the water or in the case of being in rough seas provide the needed flotation." The automatic (or manual) inflatable unit by SOSPENDERS provides over 35 pounds of buoyancy, three-times more than the recognized 11-pounds of buoyancy needed to support the average size individual in the water. The CO2 fired unit is fully inflated in 2.6 seconds. "I was very proud of Luke Dunkin's courage, his rescue effort, and then thrilled to learn he was wearing a SOSPENDERS inflatable lifevest," added Scott. "He's a true example of a hero on the water. I hope others will be so prepared."
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