A swift response by a Cooke County Game Warden and other emergency personnel on Saturday morning saved 10 University of North Texas (UNT) students who were blown off course on Lake Ray Roberts due to hazardous wind conditions.
The group of students had launched two canoes and five paddle boards onto the lake. However, strong and unexpected winds quickly overwhelmed them, causing them to lose control and drift towards the center of the lake. Panicked and clinging to their paddle boards, the students called 911 for help.
A Cooke County Game Warden, accompanied by paramedics, quickly launched a boat and located the stranded students. All ten students were successfully rescued from the water and brought safely to shore. One student was transported to a local hospital for treatment of hypothermia.
The Texas Game Warden expressed gratitude for the positive outcome but cautioned that the situation could have easily turned tragic. They emphasized the critical importance of always checking weather forecasts before going out on the water, consistently wearing life jackets, and understanding personal limitations in varying water conditions.
Game wardens also extended their thanks to a helpful fisherman who assisted in pulling students from the water, as well as their partners at Texas State Park Police, Cooke County EMS, and Denton County Dispatch, highlighting that their collaborative efforts were crucial to the successful rescue.
