POWERGRAMS

PG_May_2019_final

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13 upon them, since it was a major holiday during boating season and they had seen numerous vessels leaving Orange Beach earlier that morning. Chris and Perkins pulled the driing pair back to safety atop the upside-down boat. "They're my heroes," Marbu said. "They kept a couple of fat old guys from going out to sea." Perkins, too, said he was more concerned with driing than drowning or sharks. "That was my main thought. We've got to get out of here before we end up in Cuba." Whoever invented the waterproof cellphone is due a medal of honor. Chris was able to call 911 and relay more details than Gober. Gober, meanwhile, was in the water holding on to a floating Igloo cooler, but felt confident his call to the boat club owner would translate into the Coast Guard or Marine Police arriving shortly. But he did have concerns. "I was worried about geing run over by another boat," he said. "With us that low in the water, a big boat wouldn't be able to see you and would hit you." He had the presence of mind to grab a fire extinguisher floating in the water with an idea that came to fruition. When they saw two boats in the distance, Gober activated it, sending a plume of smoke and chemicals several feet in the air, drawing the aention of both boats. It wasn't long aerward the civilian boats arrived, then the Coast Guard, a Marine Police helicopter and officers on jet skis. It would be a happy ending. Well, almost. For Gober, communicating the situation back home was anything but happy. "My wife got a call from the boat club owner's wife who said, 'Is this Mrs. Gober? Is your husband out fishing? This is so-and-so with Legacy Boating Club. His boat went down, and we don't know anything else.' Then hung up." In a panic, Gober's wife near Birmingham immediately called a friend in their condo complex near Orange Beach who hurried down to the dock to get the good report. Marbu's call home was much different. "I called my son in Hayden and said, 'Let me tell you what happened.' He said, 'Don't worry Dad. It's all over Facebook. We know you're OK.'" Coast Guard arrived to secure the boat and passengers. Perkins Chris Hollis Gober Marbut Robert Hollis

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