Duck hunters saved after boat sinks

GUN BARREL CITY – Two duck hunters were saved from Cedar Creek Lake by a Gun Barrel City Fire Department rescue boat on Saturday after their duck hunting boat sank.

According to our news partner KETK, the Gun Barrel City Fire Department said they responded to a report of a duck hunting boat taking on water on Cedar Creek Lake near Oak Hill Drive at around 10:16 a.m. on Saturday. The Seven Points Fire Department arrived at the shore of the lake first and searched for the boaters in the lake near Oak Hill Drive. They couldn’t spot the boaters or their boat, which had sank, according to Gun Barrel City Fire Department.

Gun Barrel City Rescue Boat 1 was launched along with a Tool Fire Department rescue boat. The lake had high winds at waves at the time which reduced the searcher’s visibility on the lake.

The two men were found by the Gun Barrel City rescue boat nearly 500 yards away from Oak Hill Drive. The men were in the 56-degree water for around 90 minutes and were taken to a local hospital to be evaluated.

“I am very proud of how all of the agencies worked together today to rescue the duck hunters and safely return them to their families,” Gun Barrel City assistant fire chief Jason Raney said. “The conditions on the lake, with high winds and rough water, made this a very dangerous rescue for the personnel aboard Rescue Boat 1.”

The Texas Game Wardens are currently investigating the sinking of the duck hunting boat.