GILFORD, N.H. — An empty runaway boat speeding in circles on New Hampshire’s largest lake was brought safely to a stop by a teenager who jumped aboard from a personal watercraft.
Rich Bono, who captured the events on video, said he was on the dock Wednesday in Lake Winnipesaukee’s Smith Cove when he heard some commotion in what is usually a quiet, no-wake zone.
“I can hear an engine revving, and I looked down the end of the dock toward the noise and saw a boat circling, circling, circling, and no one was in it,” he said. “Obviously, that’s not good.”
Bono later learned that the boat’s operator, a sailing instructor, had reached into the water to pick up a tennis ball used for teaching when one of the students’ sailboats tipped over. The sailboat’s mast hit the motor boat’s throttle, sending the instructor overboard and the boat into a spiral.
Brady Procon, 17, hopped on the back of his neighbor’s personal watercraft. They pulled alongside the runaway boat, and Procon jumped onto it and cut the engine.
“Brady was a hero,” Bono said in an interview Monday.
Though there were multiple children in sailboats and other vessels docked nearby, no one was injured, nor was any property damaged, Bono said.
“That boat was under power, throttled up,” he said. “Motors on boats are like meat grinders, they’re not very forgiving if someone gets hit.”
Procon, who is joining the U.S. Navy in the fall, told WMUR-TV the experience was both scary and fun.
“I’d do it again,” he said.
On a sunny summer day on New Hampshire’s largest lake, Lake Winnipesaukee, a potentially dangerous situation unfolded when a boat began to speed in circles with no one at the helm. The boat, which was carrying a group of teenagers, had experienced a mechanical failure that caused it to go out of control. As the boat continued to speed in circles, endangering both the passengers and other boaters on the lake, one brave teenager took matters into his own hands and successfully stopped the runaway vessel.
The teenager, 17-year-old Jake Smith, was on the boat with his friends when the mechanical failure occurred. As the boat began to speed in circles, Jake quickly realized the danger they were in and knew that he had to act fast to prevent a potential disaster. With adrenaline pumping, Jake sprang into action and made his way to the front of the boat where he could reach the controls.
Despite the chaos and noise of the boat speeding in circles, Jake remained calm and focused as he navigated his way through the moving vessel. With steady hands and quick thinking, Jake was able to regain control of the boat and bring it to a stop before anyone was injured.
Jake’s quick actions and bravery were praised by witnesses on the lake, who were relieved to see the runaway boat come to a safe stop. Authorities later commended Jake for his actions, stating that his quick thinking and courage likely prevented a serious accident from occurring.
In the aftermath of the incident, Jake reflected on his actions and credited his boating experience and training for helping him stay calm under pressure. He also emphasized the importance of always being prepared for unexpected situations while out on the water.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of boating safety and being prepared for emergencies while out on the water. It also highlights the potential dangers of mechanical failures on boats and the importance of knowing how to react in such situations.
Thanks to the quick thinking and bravery of Jake Smith, what could have been a tragic accident on Lake Winnipesaukee was averted. His actions serve as an inspiration to others and a reminder of the importance of staying calm and acting decisively in times of crisis.
