A Texas fisherman has been rescued after spending nearly four hours in the water of Lake Tawakoni, successfully calling for help using his smartwatch. Steven Otto was participating in a fishing tournament on Saturday when his boat struck a submerged tree stump, throwing him into the choppy conditions.
The Rains County Texas Game Wardens received a call regarding the missing boater shortly after 7:15 a.m. Initial responders from the Tawakoni Volunteer Fire Department located the abandoned boat but could not find Otto. The Texas Game Wardens were then called in to assist with the search.
According to Texas Game Warden Dewayne Noble, the search was challenging due to three to four-foot waves on the lake. "You have a general idea, but given the conditions that we were in — it's a tough search," Noble stated.
Game Wardens eventually spotted Otto, who was wearing a life jacket, after a three-hour search and brought him to safety. Noble credited the life jacket, the engine cut-off lanyard, and the smartwatch for Otto's survival. "It sounds funny his iWatch didn't have service, but he was able to make an emergency call, and that's potentially what saved his life," Noble commented.
Otto sustained a minor cut above his eye and experienced muscle cramps but was reportedly in good spirits following the rescue. "It just wasn't my time, I think at the end of the day, that's all I can really say," Otto told reporters. "It's a miracle, because what are the odds of having that kind of an impact - no broken ribs, no broken bones in my face, or anything. Just a couple scrapes and bruises, and living today to tell the tale."