Boys saved from sinking sailboat

Bill Kornec and Ryan Fowler were getting ready to launch their jet skis at City Beach Thursday evening just as Whitefish Lake turned nasty. A potent thunderstorm was moving toward Whitefish from the north and the lake quickly became a choppy mess of whitecaps and crashing waves.

Making a wise decision, the men decided to hold off on any jet skiing fun until the storm passed. Little did they know that a small sailboat with two teenage boys had just capsized in the middle of the lake.

Luckily the boys’ father was watching from shore. He ran over to Kornec and Fowler and asked if they could help.

Without thinking, the fully clothed men grabbed their jet skis, gave the third one to the boys’ father and the trio headed out into the storm.

Fowler told the Pilot the waves were pretty intimidating and that it was tough skiing to get to the middle of the lake. Once on the scene, they hauled the boys onto their jet skis and left the sailboat in the lake, which likely sank to the bottom.

Whitefish Fire crews were getting ready to launch the hovercraft and their new fire rescue boat just as boys were pulled to shore.

The boys were cold and wet, but otherwise found to be OK after being checked on by paramedics staged at City Beach.

The storm left a small path of carnage in its wake. Friday morning a ski boat was found half-sunk near Les Mason State Park and a boat lift holding a few jet skis was flipped upside down.

A small amount of fuel was found leaking from the sinking ski boat. Whitefish Fire crews arranged for the boat to be winched out of the lake.

The storm also cut power to about 4,500 Flathead Electric Cooperative members with homes along the north and east shores of Whitefish Lake. Power was restored to the bulk of the members within five hours, with some having their power restored within half an hour.