Sunday, Aug. 14, my brother and I capsized my canoe at the Oxbow dam. On that day tragedy was adverted because of the bravery, selflessness and quick thinking of one man. Choung Nget saved our lives that day.
We were caught in the undertow for a while and even with life jackets on, we had a minute or two left, tops. Nget is a hero in the truest sense of the word. My brother and I, along with our family and friends, will forever be indebted. Words alone cannot describe what his actions have meant to us.
Other people came to our aid that Sunday as well. My brother and I would like to thank all those involved in our rescue: the bystanders who alerted the rescue personnel, the Kindred, (N.D.) and FM Ambulance services, the members of the Horace, (N.D.) Fire Department that was there very quickly to assist, the other fire and rescue personnel, Greg Dawkins and the Cass County Sheriff's Department and Kevin Engebretson, who helped ferry us across the river.
We would also like to thank Oxbow lifeguards, Anna Scholl and Kara Jensen. These young women were the first ones to come to our aid after we had been saved. The bravery, competence and professionalism displayed by them was astounding.
On a personal note, I hope this near-tragedy can bring awareness to the lethal dangers that are inherent in these unmodified low head dams and perhaps the current necessity of these dams that pepper the Red River and its tributaries will be questioned. With that being said, my brother and I take full responsibility for this incident. Our poor judgment put the lives of others in danger and for that we apologize.
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Thanks again to everyone involved, especially Choung Nget. You're a great man.
C. Michael McGlynn
Moorhead
