It’s any fisherman’s nightmare: Your boat begins to take on water and sink, the current around you is too fast to swim, and no one can hear you scream for help. This nightmare became a reality for two men on the Susquehanna River on Memorial Day. Luckily, their neighbors had their back.

Joel Esch and Jason Hoover took to the water to enjoy their long weekend. The day on the river started like any other. But as the weather grew worse, the river cleared out. Soon, there were no other boats in sight. At that moment, their craft began to fill with water.

Esch said, “I thought we were pretty much done because that current is pretty wicked. And I didn’t think anybody was around.”

Despite everything the fisherman did, their boat sank out from beneath them. Soon, they were in the water and screaming for help they doubted would arrive. Then, miraculously, another boat appeared.

Army veteran Mark Lattanzi was out on his pontoon boat with his friends and family. He said, “We were actually on the phone with the marina about to head back in just due to the weather. And one of my friends pointed out that there was a boat calling for help right next to us.”

Esch remembered the moment their rescuers arrived. “I saw those people on that pontoon. Thank God for them, I’ll tell you what.”

The Lattanzis dropped their anchor and dove into the water to pull the fisherman to safety. Mark Lattanzi said it was his privilege to help out. “Our family is based on service…I’m just glad I was there to help them. And it feels good to know that I, you know, possibly saved their life.” In many ways, the rescue was a full-circle moment for the family. Gillian Lattanzi told the whole story.

“Many years ago, my mom and I were on the Susquehanna River kayaking, and my mom got stuck on a rock. I was trying to paddle to her, and our friend was, and we weren’t able to get to her, and two fishermen saved her and brought her on their boat. So, we just know how scary the Susquehanna River can be. The fact that we were able to help other people that were in distress, it just felt really good.”

Gillian Lattanzi

Hoover and Esch later recovered their boat. They are still not positive what caused it to go down. Hoover was grateful too, saying, “You know, both of our lives were spared. That’s what counts.” Esch had a piece of advice for other fisherman braving the Susquehanna River, “Always wear your life jacket. No matter how good of a swimmer you are, that sucked. That current was wicked.”

Next, see the fisherman and Lattanzis interviewed in the video below: