The Sherman, Texas Fire Dept.'s Technical Rescue Team, successfully rescued 65-year-old Dave Ochs and Tom Bean Volunteer Firefighter Brandon Beck, who had been clinging to a tree for over three hours after the man's car was swept away in the swift waters of the swollen Choctaw Creek off Luella Road just outside Tom Bean.
An initial rescue attempt by two Tom Bean Firefighters partially failed when a Sea Doo got caught up in the strong current and floating debris and suddenly overturned. Firefighter Beck, clad in a life jacket, remained with the victim while the other firefighter managed to get the personal water craft to shore. Beck and Ochs floated down stream a short ways and managed to catch a tree and hang on until the swift water rescue team arrived.
The Whitewright Volunteer Fire Dept. also responded along with Grayson County law officials, providing mutual aid. Weather reports that roughly eight to ten inches fell in the area in a little under four hours.
