The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Tuesday, Jan. 7, at approximately 7:40 a.m., the Orange County Sheriff’s Office received an emergency call from a mobile phone from a person who was stranded in the marsh near Adams Bayou and the Inter-Coastal Waterway.

The person reported that he and another person were attempting to navigate to a duck blind when the boat got stuck on top of ice and mud.

They attempted to dislodge the boat off the ice for several hours, but could not get the boat to move.

Sheriff Keith Merritt was notified by dispatch of the situation and he immediately launched the Sheriff’s Office airboat to respond to the location.

Sheriff Merritt was able to quickly locate the subjects in the marsh and get them both safely into the airboat.

They were also able to pull the hunter’s boat off the ice and back into navigable water.

The hunters were very thankful to be rescued.

They also informed Sheriff Merritt that although they were not able to make it to their duck blind to hunt that morning, they were very appreciative of Sheriff Merritt’s quick response and help.

Sheriff Keith Merritt said he “wants the citizens of Orange County to know that when you are in an emergency situation, whether it be on land or in the waterways of Orange County, please call the Sheriff’s Office and we will do everything we can to help. That is what we are here to do, help people.”