"He's like my little hero."
Howard was out on a canoe at Two Log Campground when he got a back spasm. He took off his life jacket to pad his seat, but when he tried to put the vest back on, the boat capsized and his legs tangled in branches. Not a good swimmer Howard gripped the canoe as it started to sink. He thought the worst.
But then came Neal Simon.
"I saw him thrashing around and waving his arms."
Neal was all the way over here when he saw Howard and his overturned canoe across the lake, but the distance didn't stop him. He hopped on his bike, and rushed over to help the man who's over twice his size.
Howard is 200 pounds. Neal is closer to 80. Smaller and younger yes with his black belt in karate and rescue skills he learned at the YMCA, he acted fast.
And you know the rest Howard made it out safely. And while he jokes how he's been banned from canoeing he says he'll never forget his savior.
"Without him I wouldn't be here."
