Great save at Medicine Lake

The hand waved from the tall, yellow grass.

Kootenai County Building Inspector Scott Weitman wouldn’t have seen the stranded duck hunter if he hadn’t detoured off state Highway 3 on Wednesday to use the restroom at the Rainey Hill Boat Launch, in the series of chain lakes along the Lower Coeur d’Alene River.

“He was blue when I saw him,” Weitman said. “I could see he was blue from 30 feet away.”

Ricky Lee Barrett, of Coeur d’Alene, was duck hunting early in the day when the float tube he was sitting on flipped, dumping him into the dark waters of Medicine Lake near Medimont.

Barrett, who couldn’t be reached for comment, made his way to an island where he spent hours Wednesday morning – cold, wet and unable to move.

By the time Weitman showed up, Barrett could hardly talk.

“I told him to stay put, and I went for help,” Weitman said.

He went to the home of Sandy and Jay Raudebaugh. Another neighbor brought a small aluminum boat down to help rescue Barrett.

Together, they helped the hunter to his car and wrapped him in blankets to warm him. Sandy Raudebaugh called 911. Barrett ended up refusing medical attention.

Jay Raudebaugh said he believes the situation could have ended badly if Weitman hadn’t come along when he did. Barrett was disoriented, he said, and his hunting gear and decoys were scattered.

It was rainy, and the water was “pretty darn cold,” Sandy Raudebaugh added.

Weitman, who has been a building inspector with Kootenai County for 2 ½ years, said the restroom was the only one on the way to Cataldo, where he was headed for work.

With all the excitement, he forgot he had to go.