Conrad had considered going to the opposite end of the lake to fish from where Morris and Sampson were now fighting to keep their grip on their capsized boat.

Conrad was probably 150 yards from the boat ramp when someone on shore began to shout and wave his arms. Conrad would receive an award from the police department for his actions, and it’s the paperwork that accompanies the award that notes the man on shore played a crucial role in saving the two men. Ward McKay, who lives on the shore of the lake near the causeway, was trying to get Conrad’s attention.

McKay would later tell the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office officials who responded to his 911 call that even from his home, he could see the two men struggling to hold onto the boat. He figured they were probably in the water for close to 30 minutes. Morris would later tell officers he was not certain how much longer he or Sampson could have held on.

At first, Conrad thought the person on shore was someone he knew or perhaps someone concerned about his vehicle parked near the boat ramp. There is a no-wake zone on the lake, so he slowly returned to shore, unaware of the emergency unfolding.

Once close enough to hear what McKay was yelling, he understood two men were in the water and a boat had overturned. He yelled for McKay to call 911.