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Walker was still in the freezing water. He and the others racked their brains to come up with something. Maybe, if he got down a bit farther and caught hold of Matt’s leg, he could angle it and reduce the pressure. But it demanded an enormous personal risk. Walker would be leaning into the mouth of the drain, where the force of the water was concentrated.
Positioned to the right of the boy, Walker leaned into the torrent. He lowered his head until it was nearly submerged, then worked his arms into the pipe as far as they could go, reaching back to where Matt’s legs were bent at a right angle at the knees. He pushed on one leg, trying to turn Matt sideways to the current, as Ober and the others pulled Matt’s arms and chest toward the left. Walker pushed. No gain. He tugged. He pushed again.
At last, Matt’s right leg came free, allowing him to turn. The tow truck driver held the winch steady, and on the count of three, the men pulled. Twice more they tugged, and his body inched upward. His other leg came unshackled. And with one long, last pull, Matt was free.
Bystanders cheered, and firefighters rushed Matt to dry ground. They wrapped him in a blanket, and Ober began emergency medical treatment.
The rescue had taken a grueling 45 minutes. Matt was taken to York Hospital for observation. Apart from lacerations and bruises, and a body temperature of 93 degrees, the strong, young wrestler was okay and was released from the hospital before the night was out.
The incident didn’t scare Matt or slow him down at all. The way he looked at it, a whole community had come together for him. In appreciation for what Walker and Ober and everyone had done, Matt joined the fire department.
His only initial regret was that he’d lost the prized Timberlands he’d saved for. But once again, neighbors came through. Someone had searched downstream, found the boots and hung them on a rail out by the road. Driving by a couple of days later, Rhonda saw them, picked them up and brought them home to Matt.
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