Sheriff's Office • 100 North Fifth Avenue West • Duluth, MN 55802 Phone: (218) 726-2340 • www.stlouiscountymn.gov
Ross Litman Sheriff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: October 14, 2015
Media Contact: Lisa Johannessohn (218) 336-4331
Rescued teen, 911 dispatcher to meet - boy is praised for staying calm during water emergency
The last time Peggy Keur and Bryce Tanski spoke, it was by phone in the midst of a potentially fatal emergency. Tanski, age 17, called 911 for help as a duck hunting trip went horribly wrong. The boat in which he and two friends had been riding took on water and capsized. Keur is the 911 Emergency Communications Specialist who answered the call and remained on the line with Tanski until emergency responders were able to rescue him and his friends.
Keur answers hundreds of 911 calls in any given week, but the call from Tanski stood out to her because of the boy's poise and ability to give clear directions, which made it much easier for rescuers to reach the three teens. On Thursday, October 15, at 1 p.m., Keur and Tanski will meet in person. The Sheriff's Office has invited Tanski to visit the 911 Emergency Communications Center, so they can recognize him for his quick thinking and calm actions.
The accident happened October 4 on Fish Lake in Fredenberg Township. Two of the boys used duck decoys as flotation devices to help them swim to shore, while a third teen clung to the overturned boat to stay afloat. Tanski used a cell phone to call 911 and was able to provide the closest land address to where they were at, which enabled 911 operators to dispatch help to that location within seconds. The ordeal ended successfully when deputies were able to reach the scene via a pontoon boat.
"Both Bryce and Peggy did a remarkable job, as did the other dispatchers and responders," said Lisa Johannessohn, 911 Assistant Communications Center Supervisor. "The fact that this young man knew where he was, listened and followed the Dispatcher's instructions and stayed calm throughout the whole call contributed greatly to the positive outcome of the event."
In addition to Keur and others from 911, representatives of the Volunteer Rescue Squad and the Sheriff's Office will be on hand to meet Tanski. The 911 Emergency Communications Center is located inside the Joint Public Safety Building at 2030 North Arlington Avenue in Duluth.
###
Media interested in covering this event should come to the lobby of the Public Safety Building to be escorted to the 911 Emergency Communications Center.
