Pictured from the left are Mark Mann of the Logan County Dispatch, Shawn Petit, Luke Hangar, Deb Kimberlin of Logan County Dispatch, Ryan Sheley, John Gaston, Dan Fulscher, and Don Behle, who is the man rescued. Petit, Hangar, and Sheley were part of the rescue dive team that went into the water to rescue Behle and his dog.

Logan County men honored for water rescue

[March 22, 2016]  LINCOLN - At the March 17th Logan County Board meeting, Emergency Management Agency Director Dan Fulscher recognized a couple of Logan County men for their roles in a January water rescue. John Gaston and Ryan Sheley were presented with plaques acknowledging their actions that saved a man and his dog's life.

On January 30, 2016 Don Behle went out to walk his dog, who decided to go towards the pond. Unfortunately, the pond would not hold the dog's weight and he fell in the cold and icy water. Behle decided to go out in his canoe to rescue his dog. Unfortunately, Behle's canoe capsized and he ended up in the cold water too.

Behle said he flipped the canoe back over and tried to get back to where the ice was a little more solid. He broke up some of the ice to get to the dog, but when he got to the dog, the dog jumped up on him and they both went back into the water.

As Behle's hands got colder, they would not work.

Behle said no one knew he was in the icy water, so he swam back through the broken ice to get to the canoe. He said he was thinking, "What am I going to do now? My hands don't work. Nobody knows I'm here." Behle said, "all of a sudden I saw a car stopped over on the interstate."

In the car was John Gaston, who was driving southbound on the interstate when he saw Behle. Gaston yelled out to Behle and Behle yelled back, "call 911." Gaston had already called 911, so an ambulance soon appeared.

Behle said that another vehicle soon appeared with people wearing wetsuits. He said one of the rescuers got a lifejacket and quickly got the dog up onto the ice. Behle said another one brought a rope and soon pulled him up to safety.

Behle said, "I'm here because these guys saved my life."

In honor of Gaston role in the rescue, Behle presented him a plaque which said, "In appreciation to John Gaston for being Don Behle's Guardian Angel on January 30, 2016. Thank you Logan County EMA 911." Behle said he still does not know how Gaston saw him that day.

Fulscher next presented a "Volunteer of the Year Award" plaque to Ryan Sheley, who had also assisted in the rescue.

Behle read the award, which said, "2015 Volunteer of the Year, Ryan Sheley, Logan County EMA," and thanked him again for his role in the rescue.

Luke Hangar and Shawn Pettit of the Lincoln Rural Fire Department Dive team also assisted in the rescue.

Reverend Glenn Shelton said all that happened that day leading to Behle's rescue was not a coincidence. Shelton said, "a coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous. God loves you so much that he said, not now."

Fulscher thanked all the people involved in making rescues like this one happen. He said that several years ago EMA purchased a boat for water rescues that is kept at Lincoln Rural Fire Department, and three people have been rescued since then.

Behle said, "Thank you. If it weren't for you guys, I would not be here."

[Angela Reiners]