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N.C. Marine Patrol rescues duck hunter from Roanoke Sound
January 28, 2016 4:26 PM

A North Carolina Marine Patrol officer was in at the right place at the right time Wednesday afternoon when he spotted a duck hunter who was stranded in waist-high water.  

Officer Justin Lott was towing a boat across the Washington Baum Bridge around when he saw a small skiff adrift with no one on board. About 150 yards away from the boat, a man was waving his arms and trying to flag down traffic on the bridge.

Recognizing that the man was in trouble, Lott got on the radio and headed to a nearby boating access area. Officers Chris Lee and Amos Williams, who happened to be leaving a meeting at the marine fisheries office in Manteo, met Lott at the ramp and jumped into his boat. When they reached the man, waves from 20 mph winds were coming over his waders.

Wyatt Dewy Tillett, an 18 year-old from Manteo, told Officer Lee that he was in a duck blind when his boat broke anchor. He jumped out of the blind and into deeper water to chase it down. Officers Lee and Williams rescued Tillett from the water, retrieved his boat, and took him to the boating access area where emergency responders were waiting.

Marine Patrol Sgt. Odell Williams and Officer Alex Frye arrived to help and rescued two of Tillett’s friends, who were in a nearby duck blind waiting for their hunting buddy to return. Officers say Tillet was cold and tired, but otherwise okay.

By Stephanie G Hawco
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