Bellingham brothers credited with saving Renton man's life
LAKE CHELAN, Wash. -- A Renton man owes his life to two brothers from Bellingham who heard screams for help.
It happened at Lake Chelan. Vay Vong cramped up 80 feet from shore and sank to the bottom. The blue waters of lake Chelan are a magnet for those who live here on the dark side of the state.
Tyson and Andrew Clarke were there Saturday, fishing from a dock, when they heard yells.
"They were just screaming like crazy," said Andrew. "There was probably four of them They were just screaming, 'Help! Help! Help! He's drowning!"' Andrew said.
Vong had slipped below the water and sank 15 feet.
Tyson is not a life guard, and knows little about water rescues. But he swam out, because he said "I was his only chance."
"I dove down, and I was just feeling around. I couldn't see anything," said Tyson. "I came back up just gasping for breath. I just sat there for a moment to catch my breath. I was hyperventilating."
At the surface, Lake Chelan is blue. Fifteen feet down, it's as murky as Green Lake.
"I dove all the way down again. I went all the way to the bottom. And it was just by the Grace of God, I went straight down. And the first thing I grabbed was his hand. Put my hands right out in front of me and I ran right into him," Tyson said.
"I saw him come up with him in his arms, and it was just insane," Andrew said. "Really was like he said -- 'the Grace of God."'
Vong was ash gray. His eyes turned backward.
Andrew had learned CPR four months ago.
"If you have to break the ribs, just push as hard as you can, because you've got to get the heart started and get him breathing again," said Andrew.
"I don't know how to do CPR," Tyson said. "I was standing there, praying over him and I just prayed he would come back to life. And he started to breathe. It was honestly just a miracle."
Oh, there's one other thing. Don't call them heroes.
"We're just regular guys. And we are humbled that God would use two normal guys who were just happened to be fishing," said Tyson. "I don't think we were there by coincidence; I think we were there for a reason."
Vong is listed in critical condition at a hospital in Wenatchee.
It happened at Lake Chelan. Vay Vong cramped up 80 feet from shore and sank to the bottom. The blue waters of lake Chelan are a magnet for those who live here on the dark side of the state.
Tyson and Andrew Clarke were there Saturday, fishing from a dock, when they heard yells.
"They were just screaming like crazy," said Andrew. "There was probably four of them They were just screaming, 'Help! Help! Help! He's drowning!"' Andrew said.
Vong had slipped below the water and sank 15 feet.
Tyson is not a life guard, and knows little about water rescues. But he swam out, because he said "I was his only chance."
"I dove down, and I was just feeling around. I couldn't see anything," said Tyson. "I came back up just gasping for breath. I just sat there for a moment to catch my breath. I was hyperventilating."
At the surface, Lake Chelan is blue. Fifteen feet down, it's as murky as Green Lake.
"I dove all the way down again. I went all the way to the bottom. And it was just by the Grace of God, I went straight down. And the first thing I grabbed was his hand. Put my hands right out in front of me and I ran right into him," Tyson said.
"I saw him come up with him in his arms, and it was just insane," Andrew said. "Really was like he said -- 'the Grace of God."'
Vong was ash gray. His eyes turned backward.
Andrew had learned CPR four months ago.
"If you have to break the ribs, just push as hard as you can, because you've got to get the heart started and get him breathing again," said Andrew.
"I don't know how to do CPR," Tyson said. "I was standing there, praying over him and I just prayed he would come back to life. And he started to breathe. It was honestly just a miracle."
Oh, there's one other thing. Don't call them heroes.
"We're just regular guys. And we are humbled that God would use two normal guys who were just happened to be fishing," said Tyson. "I don't think we were there by coincidence; I think we were there for a reason."
Vong is listed in critical condition at a hospital in Wenatchee.
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