Melissa McDowell was home on Christmas break, visiting her parents in Slidell’s Chamale community. Around 10:45 a.m. on Jan. 6, she was out walking the family dog, Beau, near the Chamale Cove marina, when the Sheltie began barking furiously.
“He was just standing on the edge of the dock, barking like crazy, so I followed him over there to see what it was,” she said. “That’s when I saw this man in the water.”
 McDowell and Beau are pictured on the dock at the Chamale Cove marina, near the spot where she found Sollberger lying in the water. (Staff Photo by Anne Lautzenheiser) |
The man was Robert Sollberger, 56, a Chamale resident and local architect. He had slipped off the edge of the dock, severely cutting his hand on the way down. Though the water was shallow, barely more than a foot deep, Sollberger was disoriented and became entangled in marsh grass.
A petite woman, McDowell knew she could not pull him out by herself, so she used her cell phone to call 911 and stayed with him until he managed to free himself.
He had just climbed up to the bank when emergency personnel arrived. According to Capt. Kevin O’Neill of the Slidell Police Department, the man told them he had been lying in the water for more than 30 minutes when McDowell happened upon him.
“The officers said the water was icy, even though the air was warm,” said O’Neill. “If she hadn’t found him he might have died from exposure.”
Deputy Chief Vince Coulon of St. Tammany Fire District 1 confirmed that hypothermia was the paramedics’ chief concern. After ensuring his body temperature was stabilized, Sollberger was transported to Slidell Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for the cut and released.
O’Neill said it was not clear exactly what caused the man to fall into the water.
No blood alcohol tests were performed, so it could not be determined if alcohol was a factor.
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Comments
ann wrote on Jan 18, 2009 10:27 AM:
this man could of had a medical condition to keep him from freeing himself. you can down in inches of water "
Slidell Resident wrote on Jan 14, 2009 10:56 AM:
My comment was simply because, in MY opinion, the article was written quite sensationally. "
Mr.Smith wrote on Jan 13, 2009 9:34 PM:
over dramtic about this. SHE DID A GREAT THING!!!! You know people should realize that she may not of jumped in the water...but she did the right thing and she should be commended on that! We should on print the nice emails...Thank you Melissa for stopping. "
St Tammany Resident wrote on Jan 13, 2009 8:28 AM:
David McDowell wrote on Jan 12, 2009 4:03 PM:
Slidell Resident wrote on Jan 12, 2009 9:22 AM:
This article is just a bit too sensational and dramatic for my taste.
I guess there is nothing wrong with a few "fluff" pieces here and there, though.
And just to clarify, I am not knocking Ms. McDowell, simply stating my opinion about the article being quite dramatic. "