A dramatic rescue took place at Lake Thonotosassa, Florida, as a group of boaters and a deputy sheriff hurried to save a father and his daughter who were treading water in a lake known for its alligator population after their jet ski sank.
Christopher Snow, 31, and his 13-year-old daughter, Alexis, ventured out on the lake for a jet ski ride on April 15. When they did not return by nightfall, Snow’s concerned girlfriend, Carolyn Joyce, sought assistance from Deputy Kevin Reich of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, who happened to be conducting a routine patrol nearby.
Coincidentally, SamanthaJo Conover and her husband, Jason Font, overheard the conversation between Joyce and Deputy Reich. The couple, also boating enthusiasts, had seen the father and daughter earlier that day and felt compelled to join the search and rescue mission.
Joined by Joyce and Deputy Reich, the Conovers embarked on an urgent search for the missing father and daughter. After searching the lake for 40 minutes, they finally found Christopher and Alexis, who had been treading water for over an hour after their jet ski sank unexpectedly.
The tense moment, captured on Deputy Reich’s body camera, showed the father and daughter crying for help as they struggled to stay afloat in the perilous waters. Thankfully, both were pulled to safety onto the Conovers’ boat, and despite the harrowing experience, neither required medical attention.
In a press release issued by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office following the rescue, Christopher Snow encouraged fellow water sports enthusiasts to always wear properly fitted life jackets. He admitted that his own life jacket had not been fastened correctly, which could have put him and his daughter at greater risk while in the hazardous waters.
Lake Thonotosassa, the largest natural lake in Hillsborough County, is home to a significant population of American alligators, a top predator emblematic of Florida’s ecosystem. The lake offers various water sports activities, such as jet skiing, boating, fishing, and kayaking.
