WFAA: Man who nearly drowned at Trinity River spillway shares story
A North Texas fisherman told Star-Telegram media partner WFAA that he owes his life to the quick thinking and swimming skills of one of his close friends.
Jared Cook of Rowlett says he was out fishing near a spillway on the Little Elm Fork of the Trinity River when he slipped on a concrete incline and ended up in the water.
“It happened so quick,” Cook said.
An experienced fisherman, Cook says his fishing rod quickly snapped as he tried to get back up the embankment. He ended up being pushed out into the middle of the spillway amid swirling and dangerous currents.
“I’m struggling and doing all I can to get to the top – I can see the light at the top,” Cook said. “I can see some debris that’s been there the whole time so I know where I am.”
Cook was under water for nearly a minute before somehow fighting his way into a different current that pushed him downstream but not out of danger.
“I don’t have much strength at this point,” Cook said.
Andrew Simo was fishing in the area and saw a head bobbing in the water. The California native has extensive life guarding experience and jumped in to help.
“I ran out ahead of him and I was able to intercept him,” Simo said.
Read more here.
This story was originally published May 30, 2016 at 12:59 PM with the headline "WFAA: Man who nearly drowned at Trinity River spillway shares story."