[OSMB-News] News Release -Marine Board Honors Curry County Marine Patrol Deputies with Lifesaving Awards

[Massey, Ashley]

For Immediate Release                         Date: Thursday, November 13, 2014

Marine Board Honors Curry County Marine Patrol Deputies with Lifesaving Awards

[cid:image002.jpg at 01CFFF3E.ABD3BF70]              The Oregon State Marine Board honored Curry County marine law enforcement deputies Walter Scherbarth, Terry Brown, Ted Heath and Lt. John Ward for their life-saving efforts during the 2014 boating season.  With their skills, expertise, timing, and teamwork, at least seven lives were saved.
            Training and experience always pays off as was demonstrated on the Chetco River on February 22.  Around the noon hour, Deputy Walter Scherbarth, assisted by then-Lieutenant John Ward, were responding to a drowning that occurred earlier that day when a small boat was entrapped in a tree that had fallen into the water. As they searched for the drowning victim, Deputy Scherbarth saw a drift boat entering the dangerous section of Tamba Riffle, heading toward the numerous downed trees. The strong current fed the boat into the debris, and Deputy Scherbarth shouted to Lt. Ward "Get your throw bag, they're going to capsize."  The boat hung up and was submerged, throwing all of the occupants into the river, none of whom had his life jacket on.
One person made it to shore, but two others were heading right into the debris and probable entrapment.  Deputy Scherbarth and Lt. Ward skillfully deployed their throw bags with seconds to spare and rescued the two individuals.  Later that afternoon, a third drift boat hung up in the same strainer and partially submerged.  Deputy Terry Brown crawled out onto the limb over the swift water to use ropes in order to rescue three more individuals.  It is quite likely that without the skill and timely presence of deputies Scherbarth, Brown, and Lt. Ward, the tragedy of the day would  have been multiplied several times.
[cid:image004.jpg at 01CFFF3E.ABD3BF70]            In another incident after the peak of summer on the morning of September 4, the Curry County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from a woman stating that she and her husband were drifting in their boat towards the south jetty at the mouth of the Rogue River with a dead motor. It was an outgoing tide and the surf was running high. Deputy Ted Heath responded and knew that in short order the boat would be pushed into the jetty and lives would likely be lost. With no time to spare, Deputy Heath requested assistance from Lt. Ward to meet him at the boat ramp and to have observers on the jetty to guide him toward the distressed vessel.  In the next nine minutes, Deputy Heath hooked his boat trailer to the truck, met. Lt Ward at the ramp, launched the patrol boat and navigated to the tip of the south jetty just as the distressed vessel was entering the breakers.  Lt. Ward managed to get a line to a cleat on the boat and save it from certain demise. Neither occupant was wearing a life jacket. Deputy Heath and Lt. Ward skill and experience most likely saved two lives that morning.
            Marine Board staff and Board Member Jen Tonneson were honored to present Life Saving Awards to Deputies Walter Scherbarth, Terry Brown, Ted Heath and Lt. John Ward for their skill, expertise, and timely response that prevented imminent tragedy, seven-fold.



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Pictured: Marine Board Director Scott Brewen (Left), Lt. John Ward, Deputy Walter Scherbarth and Marine Board Member, Jen Tonneson.

Pictured: Marine Board Director Scott Brewen (Left), Deputy Ted Heath, Lt. John Ward, and Marine Board Member, Jen Tonneson.


Ashley A. Massey
Public Information Officer
Oregon State Marine Board
503-378-2623
Ashley.massey at state.or.us<mailto:Ashley.massey at state.or.us>
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