ad info

 
CNN.comTranscripts
 
Editions | myCNN | Video | Audio | Headline News Brief | Feedback  

 

  Search
 
 

 

TOP STORIES

Bush signs order opening 'faith-based' charity office for business

Rescues continue 4 days after devastating India earthquake

DaimlerChrysler employees join rapidly swelling ranks of laid-off U.S. workers

Disney's GO.com is a goner

(MORE)

MARKETS
4:30pm ET, 4/16
144.70
8257.60
3.71
1394.72
10.90
879.91
 


WORLD

U.S.

POLITICS

LAW

TECHNOLOGY

ENTERTAINMENT

 
TRAVEL

ARTS & STYLE



(MORE HEADLINES)
 
CNN Websites
Networks image


Morning News

Heroic Fish Tale for Wisconsin Middle-Schoolers

Aired July 3, 2000 - 9:40 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And now a story that started as a cultural exchange trip to New Zealand for some middle school students from Wisconsin.

During an outing aboard a boat in New Zealand, the students and their guides got word that some fishermen were in distress. The fisherman's boat had capsized. Three of the students from Wisconsin went into action, and ended up saving the lives of the fishermen.

The boys returned home last week. They join us now live from a studio in Minneapolis. We would like to welcome Gus Wiedenhoft, Ben Moe, and Jacob Houey (ph).

Gentlemen, good morning, thanks for joining us.

GUS WIEDENHOFT, HERO: Good morning.

Good morning.

Hi.

KAGAN: So how did three nice kids like you end up being in the right place at the right time in New Zealand? Gus, you start the story for us.

WIEDENHOFT: Well, we were out on a boat trip, having a good time. For most of us, it was our first experience with the ocean. So everybody was enjoying it. The sea started getting a little rough. So we turned back around and, when we were about halfway back, we got a distress call that there was a capsized vessel in the water. And there was a group of three men floating away from the boat.

KAGAN: So Ben, what happened from there?

BEN MOE, HERO: We just kept on going to the harbor, and we turned around, and most of the people thought that they were just doing this for a joke. And when we actually started to turn around and head out there, we were thinking, "oh my goodness, this is really happening."

So we go out there, we see this flipped boat after a while, maybe 20, 25 minutes after we turned around, and we see these three red things in the water, the three men with the life jackets, and we just pull up there and try to think of what to do next. KAGAN: And what did come next, Jacob, how did you guys actually help out?

JACOB HOUEY, HERO: Well, they told all the men to go down on the lower deck, and in front of the boat, and get a line of guys on the side of the boat, and some in the back. And the women and children went upstairs, and we were the three biggest boys from our middle school, and we grabbed life-rings, and through the men in front, threw them to them. And they pulled the rope, and then from the side of the boat, on the side. And then I was on this, in the back, Ben and I, and we were pulling him up with another guy, And then, after they got on the boat, we would throw them the towels and take off their clothes to dry them up, and then put hypothermia blankets on them.

KAGAN: We are able to watch these pictures, as you guys tell the story. Who was taking this video?

HOUEY: Mr. Hide (ph). He was the video camera guy in New Zealand.

KAGAN: So as this is all going on, did guys even have time to even think about what to do or what you were doing? or you just went right into action?

WIEDENHOFT: Yes, we just went right in and did it. We didn't really think about it until after the whole thing had happened.

KAGAN: And since you have saved these three men's lives, and it is over with, any thoughts on your heroism?

MOE: There is -- we are the only people who have been recognized by everyone, there is lots of other people that we need to thank, and all the people from New Zealand, they helped out, they got out of the way. We would like to thank a cheese-maker from -- who lived on the side of the harbor. He is the one that made the distress call in, telling us that the boat had capsized.

KAGAN: A good point, it took a lot of people to come together to save these three lucky men. Have you had a chance to talk to any of the fishermen who were saved.

WIEDENHOFT: We got to talk to one of them -- I had a chance to go over to his house the day after the whole thing had happened. He had gone home from the hospital the same day that it happened, and I went there with a couple of students from the school that we were exchanging with, and the national news channel met us there, and videotaped some of our conversation, and that aired the following night.

KAGAN: Well, I am sure he was very thankful, and this will end up being a summer vacation and exchange situation that you guys never forget. Thanks for coming on showing us your pictures, and sharing your story.

WIEDENHOFT: Thank you.

MOE: Your welcome.

KAGAN: Appreciate it, thank you very much, Gus, Ben, and Jacob, our heroes for today.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com

 Search   


Back to the top  © 2001 Cable News Network. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.