by Kelly Davis
Coastal Journal intern
Photo by Phyllis Gamache-Jensen
RICHMOND - The Bath Police Department Boat, the Marine One, usually drives eager Richmond Days attendees from Richmond to Swan Island during the Richmond Days celebration. But while spending time on the water the Marine One and crew did a bit more than take some runs around the Kennebec; when a Sailfish boat capsized pulling two young children and an adult man into strong winds and rough currents, Officer Keith Jensen of Bath Police Department and Deputy Doug Watson of the Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Department raced to the Sailfish and made a heroic rescue.
Officer Keith Jensen, a former Coast Guard helicopter rescue swimmer, is the Bath Harbormaster and, needless to state, is rather skilled in water rescues. When hearing the screams from the Sailfish, Officer Jensen and Deputy Watson knew they were needed.
While racing to the capsized boat, they could see the adult man holding on to a three-year-old girl and an eight-year-old girl clinging to the bow. As the three-year-old girl was being pulled under the boat, Deputy Watson pulled her to safety and quickly drove to the bow. Both men grabbed the eight-year-old from the water before returning to the adult man. After rescuing the adult man they all returned safely to shore to be evaluated. Greeted by relieved Richmond Days observers and an outburst of applause, everyone was glad to be on flat land again.
Officer Jensen, a true hero and gentleman, was simply glad to help during this Richmond Days disaster. Smiling, he stated, “I just did my job.”
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