A hero – not once, but twice

Published: June 25, 2007 | 6391st good news item since 2003

For the third time in seven years a sailboat runs into power lines catching fire on Saint Julians Creek in Chesapeake.

“I heard a loud explosion,” said Mary Thompson. “I got up to see what it was and there was a sailboat at the power lines.”

She knew right then another boat was in trouble.

“I saw the guy on the boat and I knew he needed help, because smoke was coming out of the boat,” added Thompson.

With flames and smoke coming from the vessel there wasn’t much the man on board could do. That was until Jason Stanley kicked it into action.

“I went and got on my jet ski,” said Stanley. “I went out there about ten feet away from him and told him to jump in.”

Jason scooped the captain up and brought him back safely.

“He said all his stuff was on the boat,” added Stanley. “All he had, however he can replace the boat but he can’t replace his life.”

Fire crews worked to put the flames out. The power lines again played havoc with another boat. In 2000 a sailboat did the same thing and once again it was Jason, only fifteen at the time coming to the rescue.

“You got to do what you got to do,” said Stanley. “If somebody’s life is in danger you just have to react. You can’t think about it.”

Not many people can say they were a hero once in their lives. Jason can now say it twice.

The man lives on the boat. He was headed to Pennsylvania from Florida. People in the neighborhood are helping him out, because he lost everything he owns.

Published in Heroes
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