"I didn't see the snakes until we were back on shore."

[Guest jackdm3]

Park ranger honored for water rescue at Shelby Farms lake » The Commercial Appeal

[Westwindmike]

For those who don't want to have to click the link, here is the story.

Park ranger honored for water rescue at Shelby Farms lake

By Michael Lollar

Saturday, June 12, 2010

In four years as a park ranger, Matthew Presley's rescues had been limited to turtles and ducks that wander onto the narrow roadways at Shelby Farms.

That was until the start of Memorial Day weekend when he was picking up trash and patrolling near the edge of Pine Lake. Presley, 24, had to tell a couple of young swimmers near the water's edge that swimming is not allowed in the park's 13 lakes.

Suddenly, a thrashing near the middle of the lake was accompanied by the shouts of a woman. "He's drowning," the woman yelled, pointing to the commotion in the 22-foot-deep water. Presley yanked off his boots and dived into the murky water.

He swam more than 100 yards to rescue a 16-year-old boy who struggled at first, then responded when Presley issued instructions he learned from a Red Cross water rescue course.

"Just float on your back. Don't kick," he told the boy.

When they reached shore, Presley's fellow ranger, Drew Balton, already had summoned an ambulance.

Presley said the rescued boy also was greeted on shore by his grateful father. The teenager and two friends had stripped to their shorts for the swim. As he lay on his side spitting up water before transport to a hospital, the rescued swimmer didn't realize how lucky he was.

"I didn't see the snakes until we were back on shore," says Presley. One of the reasons no-swimming signs are posted at the park's lakes is that Shelby Farms is teeming with native animal species, including water moccasins.

At the park conservancy, communications manager Jen Andrews told Presley his quick-thinking water rescue was especially brave. "You knew the water moccasins were in there."

The park board awarded him and Balton plaques this week, honoring them as heroes, while the Shelby County Commission cited Presley Monday for bravery for saving the life of the teen.

Presley, who said he hasn't been able to contact the teenager since the rescue, said that, like the teenager, he didn't stop to think about poisonous snakes when he dived into Pine Lake. "The only thing I was concerned about was getting in there and getting him out."

-- Michael Lollar: 529-2793

[Guest Glock23ForMe]

. . .he didn't stop to think about poisonous snakes when he dived into Pine Lake . . .

-- Michael Lollar: 529-2793

Someone call her and let her know...

[Smith]

For those who don't want to have to click the link, here is the story.

Thanks . 200 yrds, 100 with a 16 yrd old in tow is a heck of a swim for a guy in full clothes! Nice job. Not really sure what "snakes" had to do with the story, but OK.

[Guest KimberChick]

Thanks . 200 yrds, 100 with a 16 yrd old in tow is a heck of a swim for a guy in full clothes! Nice job. Not really sure what "snakes" had to do with the story, but OK.

The lakes in Shelby Farms are home to quite a few water moccasins. I see them in the lakes around the paved walking trail and the back lakes off the TdW trail almost as frequently as sunning turtles.