When Jimmy MacDonald found himself struggling in 30 feet of water with a life jacket riding up over his head, he uttered a desperate prayer for divine intervention. What happened next seemed like an answer sent straight from heaven—a rescue boat filled with Catholic priests and seminarians appeared just in time to pull him to safety.
A distracted kayaker in distress
The Albany resident was kayaking when conditions on the water suddenly deteriorated. MacDonald admitted he had drifted away from his wife and stepchildren because he was distracted by taking pictures with his new smartphone “and not really paying attention.”
As he attempted to return to his family, the increasingly rough waters proved too challenging. His vigorous paddling caused him to capsize and lose his paddle, leaving him clinging to his overturned kayak with one hand while clutching his $1,400 smartphone in the other. The poorly fitted life jacket kept slipping up over his head, making his situation even more precarious.
Despite seeing other boaters passing at a distance, MacDonald’s pride as a former amateur boxer prevented him from calling out for assistance. After struggling unsuccessfully to flip his kayak upright, he reached a breaking point. “That’s when I said, ‘Alright, I think I might die today. I think this might be it.’ I prayed to my lord and savior Jesus Christ for help.”
An unlikely rescue crew
Greg Barrett, who captains vessels for Tiki Tours, noticed MacDonald’s paddle floating in the water. “A lot of things aligned that day,” Barrett observed. Unlike typical days when he transports party-goers, this particular trip carried very different passengers. One of them reportedly heard MacDonald’s cry for help. “So as soon as I turned the boat towards him, I realized his life preserver had been in the upper portion of his head and he was, he was hanging on for dear life.”
The crew and passengers quickly hauled MacDonald aboard to safety. As a drug counselor who has maintained his sobriety for seven years, MacDonald found humor in the situation. “How funny is it that I’ve been sober for seven years and I get saved by a tiki bar?”
A boat full of clergy
The true surprise came when MacDonald realized who his rescuers were. The tiki boat was carrying members of the Paulist Fathers—priests and seminarians from a Catholic retreat located on the lake. MacDonald had prayed for divine assistance, and his prayer was answered by a boat filled with men of faith.
The clergy members themselves viewed the rescue as providential. Chris Malano, a second-year seminarian, reflected on the experience: “We’re missionaries. For us, that day, that was our mission to be present and to help someone in need.”
For MacDonald, the experience has reinforced his sense of purpose. He now views the incident as confirmation that his work helping people struggling with addiction is his calling. “I just take that as a sign from God that he’s got me here for a real reason,” said MacDonald.
