New London – A lot of things went right on May 4.
Keith Mutch just happened to take a joyride from his home in Torrington to Ocean Beach. He just happened to have his ham radio with him that day, and he just happened to have the U.S. Coast Guard’s radio frequency committed to memory.
And when Mutch noticed a 12-year-old Waterford girl and her dog struggling to paddle an aluminum canoe in the choppy waters at the mouth of the Thames River, Mutch was prepared to respond.
His actions set in motion what ultimately became the successful rescue of the girl after her canoe capsized, plunging her into the 47-degree water.
from www.theday.com