Man Nearly Drowns, Saved by Aspirus Chaplain

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Wausau Downtown Airport, WI

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Updated: 7:04 PM Aug 14, 2009 Man Nearly Drowns, Saved by Aspirus Chaplain A local chaplain is being called a hero, and a man is alive to tell about it. Posted: 3:57 PM Aug 14, 2009 Reporter: Liz Hayes Email Address: lhayes@wsaw.com Man Nearly Drowns, Saved by Aspirus Chaplain Man Nearly Drowns, Saved by Aspirus Chaplain (6)

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A local chaplain is being called a hero, and a man is alive to tell about it.

Michael Stoffel, nearly drowned in the Wisconsin River Near Downtown Wausau early this morning.

Tamara Frinak, a Chaplain Resident at Aspirus Wausau Hospital says says she was at the right place at the right time, and it was God who put her there.

Every morning, the avid runner jogs along the Wisconsin River.

Early this morning, at about 5, she says she could hear a man screaming, but couldn't place his location.

She went closer to the river, climbed a wooden fence, stood on the cement embankment, and saw a panicked man struggling to stay afloat.

As the pouring rain came down, she called for him to come closer.

She says she tried to use her shirt to pull him up, but the weight wouldn't hold.

Tamara Frinak says, "And then I pulled him along the retaining wall until there was a break where some of it was crumbling and I could see there was a rod sticking out."

The man held on, as Frinak ran across Scott Street and Bridge Street to Wausau Health Services.

There, 911 was called, and two nurses rushed over to help.

Finally emergency workers arrived and pulled the man to safety.

We don't know much about the man, but he is reportedly homeless.

Police say he was likely disoriented in the rain and darkness when he fell in.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 14, 2009 at 05:43 PM

Hero indeed! Tamara, you will be rewarded for your good deed... God Bless

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