Woman Hailed As Hero After Saving Three Boaters

Woman Hailed As Hero After Saving Three Boaters

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Story Published: Jun 1, 2006 at 6:25 AM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 8:26 AM PDT

By April Zepeda

SNOHOMISH COUNTY - A college student didn't want to be a hero when she sprang into to action and rescued three boaters, but she's being hailed as one anyway.

At first the boaters on the Martha Lake in Snohomish County looked like they were just having fun. But watching from her house, Alana Schutt quickly realized they were in trouble.

"I could just see their boat was very full of water - they weren't just splashing around at that point," said Schutt.

She jumped in her paddle boat. As she got closer, she saw two men trying to bail water out of their boat and another struggling to keep his head above water.

"I noticed he was much bigger than I thought he was. He was yelling, 'I'm not going to make it, hurry.' "

Schutt pulled the 250 pound man into her boat and headed toward the others who were now in the water.

She helped them out of the lake and then pulling their boat and pushing her own -- she swam them safely to shore.

"The sheriff, the fire department, they were all glowing," said Alana's father Len Schutt. "They said. 'You can't believe what your daughter just did. They weren't even wet.' Yeah, they were impressed." said Schutt's father, Len.

A college softball player, Schutt is in shape, but insists she is not special. She says what happened out there was less about her and more about boat safety.

"Life jackets would have made a big difference in the whole situation. One guy, if I hadn't been there, would have drowned probably," said Schutt.

Even three strong men can run into trouble. Fortunately, one young woman can make a difference.

It was the second time Alana has come to the aid of someone in trouble on Martha Lake. A couple of years ago, she and her dad rescued a man who almost drowned when fishing line wrapped around his legs.

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