A fisherman rescued a man whose canoe overturned in Cattaraugus Creek late Thursday afternoon.
Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies say while Joshua Pfeiffer of Springville was fishing on the island in the middle of the creek near Irving, New York, he noticed some splashing in the water, and quickly realized a man was trying to make it to shore with his capsized canoe.
Pfeiffer helped Robert Burau of Silver Creek to the shore of the small island, and then called 911. Pfeiffer then went to the boat launch and directed deputies and rescue personnel to Burau’s location.
Burau was taken by ambulance to Lakeshore Hospital for treatment of hypothermia. Deputies say he was wearing a life jacket.