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Bodycam video | DNR rescues 8 people, including young children and dog from capsized boat

The agency shared the video to show the importance of water safety.

ATLANTA — Two Department of Natural Resource law enforcement officers are being praised after their quick thinking helped save eight people and a dog on Lake Allatoona Sunday.

Georgia DNR said Game Warden Steven Martinez and Cpl. Tyler Lewis spotted an overloaded boat capsize on the water while on patrol. DNR shared body camera video of the incident.

"They're legit going under," one law enforcement officer is heard on the video.

Video shows the DNR boat approaching an overturned passenger vessel with one of the DNR officers waving to the group treading water.

"Is everybody OK?" one of the officers asked, shouting at the group. 

He proceeds to throw a floatation device in the water and a life jacket.

This past Sunday, Game Warden Steven Martinez and Cpl. Tyler Lewis witnessed an overloaded vessel capsize on Lake Allatoona. They we able to quickly get to the boat and began throwing flotation to the people in the water and began getting them onto their boat. All eight people on board, including small children and a dog were rescued. The video starts with Martinez's perspective, then the last 30 seconds cuts to the event from Lewis's perspective. This video shows the importance of always having a life jacket on as well as having a throwable life jacket readily available. We are thankful all occupants were rescued without injury.

Posted by Law Enforcement Division - Georgia DNR on Tuesday, June 21, 2022

One of the officers pulled a crying toddler out of the water, the first person to be rescued from the capsized boat. Another child is then lifted onto the DNR's patrol boat as well.

Most of the people rescued had on a life vest, leaving behind floating chairs from the capsized boat and the passengers' belongings. 

"All eight people on board, including small children and a dog were rescued," according to the DNR.

The crowd huddled together on the DNR's boat, comforting the scared children. Though the passengers were in shock, everyone seemed to be OK.

"This video shows the importance of always having a life jacket on as well as having a throwable life jacket readily available. We are thankful all occupants were rescued without injury," the DNR said.

 

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