Happy group

Flotilla 10-13, D1-SR, routinely patrols and conducts training on Greenwood Lake, located in NJ and NY. We coordinate our work with the Village of Greenwood Lake Marine Police, the West Milford NJ Marine Police and the Passaic County Sheriff's Dept.

Greenwood Lake is a very busy spot, enjoyed by recreational boaters for fishing, swimming, tubing, personal watercraft, fireworks, sail regattas, water-ski competitions, scull races, and more...

Among the boaters who regularly enjoy Greenwood Lake’s waters and beautiful scenery is Mike Shultz of Wanaque, NJ. Mike has overcome some special challenges – he is a successful disabled boater, a paraplegic who uses a wheelchair and specially adapted vehicle to get around. He is someone who has not let his situation keep him from doing the things he loves.

You can often see Mike at the lake, with his wife Laurie, daughters Lucie and Joanna, or with other family and friends.

It was a good Memorial Day this year at the lake. Mike and friends were out early on his bass boat, doing some fishing and having some fun. That is until a gust of wind sent his extra-light titanium and Kevlar wheelchair over the back of the boat. It sank like a stone in some 40 feet of water.

Shocked and devastated by the loss, Mike and his friends tried to retrieve the chair by grappling in the water for the next four hours. He asked for help from nearby boats, many tried to help but nobody had any luck.

Mike thanking Russel as Nhung looks on

The Village of Greenwood Lake Police and our Flotilla were on patrol that day. They tried to help too, searching with depth finders and anchors, to no avail. Four volunteer divers gave it a try as well as a diver from the Village of Greenwood Lake police force, but all came up empty.

Mike resigned himself to making do for the time being, using his old, much repaired chair. He still came up to the lake to use his boat, with the lost wheelchair frequently on his mind.

Fast forward one month to July….

Enjoying a day at the lake on their Catalina sailboat were Russell Heaton and his fiancé Nhung of Rockaway, NJ. After some sailing, they went swimming with the boat at anchor.

When it was time to go home, Russell hauled up the anchor - it seemed much heavier than normal… Maybe it was some extra seaweed. On the other hand, maybe a stump? Not this time. Hooked to the anchor was Mike’s wheelchair! Russell hauled his mucky, smelly, dripping “catch of the day” aboard and reported his find to the Greenwood Lake Police.

“Do you know if anyone lost a wheelchair in the Lake?” he asked. Officers Matt Sass and Richard “Duck” Vandermark had heard the story, but did not have the name. The police flagged down Coast Guard Auxiliary boat “Rescue 13”and asked if the Auxiliarists knew the name of the person who had lost the wheelchair. Sure enough, they did, and phone lines were soon burning up.

When Ken Hall, Past Commander of Flotilla 10-13 made the call, Mike could not believe it. He was ecstatic. All he could say was, “Really? Wow! That’s incredible! That’s so wild! Thanks, Ken, THANKS!”

Rescued wheelchair

They arranged for the handover, and few days later Russell and Nhung brought the now-clean wheelchair back to Greenwood Lake. They rolled it up the path to its rightful owner to heartfelt thanks and grins and applause all around.

“The pump is still attached!” exclaimed Mike.

Mike and Laurie Shultz were there with their daughters. Representing all the people who had given of their time to help long were Russell Heaton and Nhung, Richard “Duck” Vandermark and Matt Sass of the Greenwood Lake Police, Ken Hall, Wendy Korteweg and Marge Korteweg of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 10-13.

Mike’s chair still needs some work and polishing after its weeks amid the lake bottom weeds and fishes, but Mike is thrilled to have it back and is one happy boater.

Sometimes things turn out the way they should.