Gil James, an off-duty fire fighter and paramedic with Prince George’s County, MD, Local 1619, emerged as an unexpected hero on Sunday afternoon, rescuing five people from a capsized boat on the Potomac River.
A storm moved through the area with high winds that caused the vessel in the Potomac River to overturn. James heard the distress call on the radio and immediately went to their aid along with his son.
James says they found the boat capsized and five of the six passengers clinging to it without life jackets.
“I think it just happened so fast that they didn’t have a chance to respond,” James said.
They were able to get the survivors to safety until help arrived.
“They were standing on the bottom of the boat. It’s a miracle that we didn’t have six fatalities,” he said. “We had to act fast. It was about a five-minute boat ride back to the marina, and we had to make sure everyone was safe.”
The rescuers eventually found the last boat occupant, who died in the wreckage. Despite the tragic outcome, James was able to meet with one of the survivors days later.
It’s hard but knowing that we made a difference in these people’s lives is incredibly rewarding.
Gil james, local 1619 fire fighter/paramedic
“They are all still extremely distraught, but they are very thankful,” he said. “It’s like we’ve gained new family members.”
IAFF 4th District Vice President Andrew Pantelis commended James, saying, “He exemplifies the courage and dedication that encompasses our union. His quick thinking and bravery saved lives and demonstrated the true spirit of who our members are.”
James credits the rescue to being in the right place at the right time. “The good Lord puts us where we need to be. I was just doing what I was trained to do,” he said. “It’s hard but knowing that we made a difference in these people’s lives is incredibly rewarding.”
