“I had purchased a collapsible boat. The manufacturer of the boat sold a sailing kit that could be used with the boat. I bought the kit and learned to do some sailing,” remembers Miller.

Mr. Miller and his grandson took the boat to the James Creek boat launch on Raystown Lake.

“As I tried to raise the sail, the line climbed over the edge of the pulley and jammed. I was unable to raise or lower the sail,” said Mr. Miller. “The wind hit the sail and blew it around toward me. The boom struck my shoulder and pushed me to the side of the boat. My grandson and I were both dumped into the water.

“Thanks to our life jackets, we came back to the surface of the lake,” he continued. “My grandson was holding onto the overturned boat. I took a knife from my belt and got under the boat and cut the line, permitting the mast to fold down. Then I paddled and pushed the boat to shore.” Without life jackets a simple accident could have been a tragedy.