Today's Most Popular Video
Jun 29, 2009 11:15 pm US/Central
Witnesses: 2 Sacrificed Lives To Save Drowning Boy
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. (WCCO) ―
-
-
Nathan Junker, 30, passed away on Sunday, June 28, 2009. He died while saving another from drowning. He leaves behind his wife, Samantha, and their three daughters Lauren, Alex, Journey, and newborn son, Lincoln.
Family Photo
-
-
The bodies of Nathan Randall Junker, 30, and Albert John Hermiston, 63, who disappeared in wind-swept Pokegama Lake in Itasca County have been recovered. They are credited with rescuing a boy who was struggling in the lake before the two drowned.
CBS
The bodies of two men who disappeared in wind-swept Pokegama Lake in Itasca County have been recovered. They are credited with rescuing a boy who was struggling in the lake before the two drowned.
The Itasca County Sheriff's Office identified the two men as 30-year-old Nathan Randall Junker and 63-year-old Albert John Hermiston both of Grand Rapids.
According to the Itasca County Sheriff's Department, they received a 911 call at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Paul Shorma and Kayla Domagall were amongst the crowd of 30 on the beach outside Zorbaz restaurant on the shore of Pokegama Lake when the call for help arrived.
According to witnesses, a group of young people were on a house boat on the lake, en route to a sandbar to swim.
That's when witnesses say the weather turned and the waves on the lake grew to about 3-foot swells.
One youth was struggle with the waves when Junker and Hermiston went out to help him with a lifejacket.
The youth was able to make it to safety but both men didn't make it back. Hermiston was found soon afterwards and was rushed back to the beach at Zorbaz.
"We all went and helped hold the boat along side the docks because the waves were so big that the boat was floating away. So we all pushed it up right against the dock so they could get the guy out as fast as they could," said Shorma.
Rescue crews attempted to resuscitate Hermiston. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Junker's body was recovered just before 8 p.m. Monday by the Itasca County Sheriff's Office Dive Team
Shorma and Domagall called both the men heroes who gave their lives to save a child. They say their sacrifice will always be remembered.
"They have so much bravery in their hearts and they were great role models for all of those kids. And it's a great lesson to be learned from all of us. They were great men in the community," said Domagall.
Both men were members of Faith Baptist Church in Grand Rapids. Junker was the youth minister.
Officials said no foul play is suspected, alcohol was not a factor and the drownings have been ruled an accident.
Authorities estimated winds were at speeds of 25 to 35 mph and gusts of 40 to 45 mph at the time, causing large waves on the lake.
Junker leaves behind his wife, Samantha, and their three daughters Lauren, Alex, Journey, and newborn son, Lincoln. A memorial trust has been set up to help Junker's family. Donations can be made to any Wells Fargo branch under the title "Nathan Junker Memorial Trust" or you can mail in donations to:
Nathan Junker Memorial Trust
Wells Fargo Bank
220 NW 1st Ave
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Don Shelby Makes A Promise, Gets Inked
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
