Crystal Lake Youth Gets National Boy Scout Heroism Award at Camp Lowden

Crystal Lake Troop 168 Boy Scout Joshua Jahnke was honored with a national Boy Scout life saving award while he was at Camp Lowden in mid-July.

What follows is the citation contained in the award. Pictures are from the ceremony.

On August 14, 2008, Joshua Jahnke, age 13, and his aunt, Jorie Hess, went sailing on Crystal Lake, in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

While sailing, they passed a canoe carrying a boy from Joshua’s troop (168) and his father, Zach and Charlie Wirth.

Zach, age 11, stood up in the canoe to wave back to Joshua, thus causing the canoe to tip over throwing the boy and his father in the water. The depth of the lake at this point was 10 feet and they were about 50 feet from shore.

Having canoeing and lifesaving merit badges, Joshua left the sailboat and swam over to the canoe to help right it, a distance of about 10 feet.

As Joshua got closer to the canoe he saw that Mr. Wirth did not have his PFD (personal flotation device) on and that he was having trouble swimming and was starting to panic.

Mr. Wirth was not a good swimmer and was tiring fast. He was wearing heavy clothing and shoes that added to his difficulty in swimming.

Joshua retrieved Mr. Wirth’s PFD and took it to him. Joshua talked to Mr. Wirth assuring him that everything would be alright. This helped to calm Mr. Wirth down.

Bystanders on the shore observed what had happened and called 911.

Two construction workers that were working on a building ran to help with the rescue.

One swam out to the canoe with a cord and the other one stayed on the dock to pull them in. Because the cord was not long enough, Joshua pulled Mr. Wirth to the cord.

Mr. Wirth was pulled to the dock. As Mr. Wirth made it to the dock, the paramedics and rescue team arrived. Mr. Wirth was checked out and he was fine.

Zach Wirth floated and treaded water during this time. He swam back to the dock with his father. Joshua swam back to the canoe and brought it back to shore.

Because of Joshua’s training in aquatics skills and lifesaving through the Boy Scouts, he kept a clear head, knew what to do, and executed a successful rescue.

The above was provided by
Ray Warren
Eagle, Class of 1972
President, Blackhawk Area Council (www.blackhawkscouting.org)
Editor, Sycamore Noteworthy (www.sycamorebsa.org)
Scoutmaster, C-23-07
Facebook (www.facebook.com/WarrenRJ)


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