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Homer resident saves kayaker's life on Six-Mile Creek

Courtesy of James Bennett

This past weekend, Homer resident Obadiah Jenkins was spending his 33rd birthday kayaking Six-Mile Creek in Hope at the 10th-annual Whitewater and Bluegrass Festival. Kayakers hold a friendly race as part of the festivities. Jenkins was taking a practice run through the class four rapids when a bystander filming the event, noticed another participant, 64-year-old Daniel Hartung of Indian Valley, flipped out of his kayak and became pinned under a log. Jenkins wasted no time organizing a rescue effort to save the man’s life. After about five minutes of trying to pull Hartung from the river, Jenkins jumped into the rushing water to save the man. KBBI’s Aaron Bolton caught up with Jenkins after some much needed recovery. 

Jenkins and James Bennet, the bystander who noticed Hartung was in trouble, stayed in contact after the incident. Hartung is still recovering, but is doing well. The three men plan to meet for dinner and a few drinks at Jenkins’ farm in Homer over the weekend. Bennett filmed the entire rescue and wrote about the experience for the Alaska Dispatch News.

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Aaron Bolton has moved on to a new position in Montana; he is no longer KBBI News Director. KBBI is currently seeking a News Director, and Kathleen Gustafson is filling in for the time being.