Lincoln Police Officer Pierce Krouse says there was no other option as he jumped into Holmes Lake Sunday night to rescue a 39-year-old woman from drowning. The woman was clinging to her capsized kayak and estimates she had been in the water for about 30 minutes.
Krouse knew LFR was on the way, but felt there was no other option. Some of his fellow officers parked their cruisers near the north shore and turned on the headlights so he could he could get a better look at where the kayak was. He then shed his duty vest and shoes and jumped in the water.
“I was just worried that she was out there for so long, and the water was cold. Hypothermia, shock, exhaustion. I didn’t know if she had a life jacket or not,” Krouse says. “It wasn’t really a thought as to whether I should go out or not it was just kind of we really need to do this.”
Krouse swam out about 30 yards and was able to help the woman on top of the capsized boat and pushed them both back to shore. He says the woman was extremely relieved to see the officer and was treated at the scene. Krouse inhaled some water and was treated at the hospital. He then put on a dry uniform and went back to work and finished his shift.
Officer Krouse says the woman had a big sigh of relief once he was able to reach her. He says the woman had flipped her kayak on the south shore. “She wasn’t able to get back because of the wind or something pushing the current a little bit.”
Krouse has never gone through any water rescue training and says he just used use his instincts. He has been with the department since December of 2022.