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Watch These People Leap Into a Freezing River to Escape a Speeding Boat Then Stay on Dry Land Forever

From Country Living

Just in the nick of time, several fishermen avoided a tragic boating accident-and now footage of their narrow escape is going viral.

Fisherman and police officer Bryan Maess was out on his 21-foot boat with friends in the Columbia River near Oregon's Fort Stevens State Park when a fast-moving 31-foot speedboat crashed into his. After several attempts to grab the attention of the other driver, the men were forced to jump into the freezing river and just barely escaped a fatal collision. The dramatic footage was caught on Bryan's GoPro, which was mounted to his boat, according to The Oregonian.

Bryan is now suing the speedboat driver, claiming he suffers from ankle, leg, and arm injuries in addition to vision problems and headaches while his fellow passengers claim they endured wounds and hypothermia. Bryan's small boat was also demolished in the accident and the flying debris contributed to some of his injuries.

The speedboat driver, Marlin Lee Larsen, claims he didn't see Bryan's boat in front of him because he was sitting down. He also denied reports that he was on his cellphone while operating the boat, though police reports indicate his son-in-law, who was also on the boat, allegedly warned him to put down his phone and pay closer attention. If Bryan wins the lawsuit, he could collect $372,500 for his physical and psychological injuries.

(h/t Fox News)

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