Emergency personnel responded to the State Boat Docks on the causeway between Cedar Bluff and Centre around 10:00am Thursday, after someone spotted a sailboat overturned in the water about a hundred yards from the docks.

Initial reports indicated only what appeared to be an overturned boat with no one in sight – however, an individual was soon spotted with the boat.

The Cedar Bluff Fire Department, Cherokee County Rescue Squad and Floyd EMS, along with the Cedar Bluff PD responded and quickly brought the boat and the man ashore – where it was learned the strong winds on the lake had snapped one of the masts on the sailboat – tipping it over, tossing the man into the water.

When help arrived, he had reportedly been in the water for some 30 minutes, and was tired but otherwise okay – and all-in-all extremely lucky.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Marine Police also assisted.