Pictured, from left, are Rosemary Laughlin, Lillian Hoover, Laurie Hoover and Don Laughlin.

WINONA LAKE — The Hoover family was honored for saving Don Laughlin’s life during the Winona Lake Town Council meeting held on Tuesday, Aug. 15.

On July 19, Don was fishing on Winona Lake. When it started getting a little too warm out, he started his boat motor back up and hit a wave. Hitting the wave caused his boat to turn sideways, throwing him to the back of the boat and eventually into the water. At this point, the boat kept circling in the water and Don began yelling for help.

“I went under the water,” remembers Don. “Fortunately Laurie was close by.”

Laurie Hoover and her family had planned on spending a day out on the lake and they ended up swimming off their boat near the shoreline.

“I looked over and I saw this dark brown fishing boat and I saw someone’s hands up in the air,” said Laurie. “My lifeguarding skills just clicked in.”

Laurie attempted to throw two life vests to Don but both missed. This was when she decided to jump into the water. She was able to find Don under the water and pull him up to the surface.

Lillian, Laurie’s daughter, was watching the whole scene from inside the Hoover family’s boat. “I swam all the way to Mr. Laughlin so that I was with him while she went for the boat so he wasn’t alone,” said Lillian.

“We were really just at the right place at the right time,” said Laurie.

Laurie and Lillian were presented with a life saving award and a bouquet of flowers from Don’s grateful wife Rosemary. Hugs were exchanged and everyone in attendance thanked Laurie and Lillian for their quick thinking.