WTOL.com, Toledo's News Leader, News 11 | Father and Son Talk About Getting Stranded in the Icy Maumee Bay

Father and Son Talk About Getting Stranded in the Icy Maumee Bay

POINT PLACE -- A father and son are back at work and school after a short boat trip nearly killed them in the icy Maumee Bay.  Their boat sank off the shore of Cullen Park in Point Place around 7:30 Monday night.  Now two days later, they tell a story of frigid water and the work of complete strangers that saved them.

According to a news release from the Coast Guard Detroit Sector Command Center, the lake freighter Federal Sakura called authorities after hearing screams and seeing two people clinging to bouy #48 at the entrance to the Maumee River.  Coast Guardsmen from Station Toledo were on routine patrol in the bay, and went to the scene and plucked Trent Cousino and his son out of the water.

When Cousino went to work Monday morning, he never imagined his day would end at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center with treatment for hypothermia.  He was taking his boat from one marina to another for winter storage when he says he hit something in the water, and the boat sank.  He and his 10-year-old son were plunged into the 47-degree water with only their life jackets.

"I didn't think I could make it," said Trent, "But now I'm just grateful that there are heros in this area that wear the Coast Guard uniform."

In the dark, neck-deep in frigid water, the father/son pair were struggling for their lives.  "We started swimming, started swimming, started swimming and we were kicking the whole way."  Cousino says he started to reach his physical limit when his son gave him the determination he needed.  "My son's just like, 'Dad, Cousino's never quit,' because I started cramping up and started feeling it," said Trent.

The Coast Guard says their life jackets and their determination kept them going, but Cousino says complete strangers saved their lives.  "We seen a freighter come in, and it wasn't far from us.  We started yelling and I could hear the crew on the boat yelling back.  All I remember is their spotlight hitting us, and it was plain as day.  'We've got you, help's on the way, we've found you.'"

"That's when I told my son, 'Stop kicking, just hug me.  They got us.'"

Posted by AEB