Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours honored for lifesaving efforts

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Park Police made a presentation Wednesday to employees of the Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours, lauding the binational company's rescue of Lindsay Burgess.

On July 18, 2011, WJBT trip leader Brittany Thomson, then 19, and WJBT Capt. Corey Ziraldo witnessed the unthinkable while with a group of whitewater riders. The State Parks proclamation reads the pair "noticed the woman about to drown and took immediate actions to rescue her, by navigating the vessel to her, observing her location last seen before going under water, and then with great skill maneuvering the vessel into position to pull her from the water when she resurfaced."

Two passengers, Lori and Michael Pickette, performed life-saving actions on Burgess, who recovered and was then taken to a hospital.

On hand to make the proclamation to Ziraldo and WJBT President John Kinney was Ron Peters, interim deputy general manager for State Park's western district; Dr. Jerry Mosey, vice chairman of the Niagara Region Parks Commission; State Park Police Maj. David Page; State Park Police Lt. Clyde Doty; and State Park Police Lt. Patrick Moriarty. Thomson lives out of state and couldn't attend the ceremony.