by Josh Carpenter

DENVER – The powerful thunderstorm that came through the Denver area Saturday, June 18, had the Denver Fire Department. on its toes. Three watercraft emergencies were reported on Lake Norman.

The first came at 4:05 p.m. when a sailboat overturned near the Sailview Community and Dog Island. When they arrived the Denver fire personnel reported that all three victims were out of the water, and one person had gotten the boat upright. Denver Fire Department Public Information Officer Dion Burleson said the vessel was being towed to the shore by a passing jet ski when the fire department arrived. Burleson also said no injuries were reported.

The second call came just 22 minutes later, as a craft was taking on water near Governor’s Island. Burleson said that when the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office arrived, deputies pulled subjects from the sinking vessel.

“When the Denver Fire and East Lincoln Fire departments arrived, there was debris floating in the water, and the boat was completely submerged,” Burleson said. “One of the firefighters who responded to the call said the boat was a bow rider type of design and was recreational in nature.”

Burleson said he didn’t have a make or model for the boat involved, but no one was injured during the incident.

The third call came at 5:09 p.m., as another boat in distress near Governor’s Island. Denver Fire Boat 13 was the first to report and found a recreational boat stuck on a shoal.

Two firefighters entered the water and assisted the boat in getting off the shoal. Burleson said no one was injured.

“It could have been close calls, at least on those first two incidents, but as it turned out, everyone was OK,” Burleson said. “It’s a testimony that everyone had life jackets on. Wearing that jacket on the water makes a huge difference.”