Pennsylvania Couple Helps Save Kayaker's Life In Scituate

SCITUATE (CBS) - A Pennsylvania couple on vacation is credited with helping to save a local kayaker's life.

Donna LaMonica and Chris Rudolph were walking Humarock Beach early Thursday morning when they heard faint cries in the distance.

"We heard a really weird noise. It wasn't a bird, it wasn't a hammer....It was somebody yelling for help. 'Help, help. Save me. Help,'" says LaMonica.

The couple searched South River before spotting a man 700 feet off shore.

"There's a sailboat and he was hanging off the side of the sailboat," says LaMonica.

They immediately called 911.

"I started to yell back to the person that help was on the way," says Rudolph.

Both Donna and Chris are Navy veterans. Chris has more than 20 years of fire and EMS experience. He knew time was of the essence.

"After years of experience doing cold water rescue, the bay temperature may be 45-50 degrees. Fifteen minutes of that and you're going to have hypothermia," says Rudolph.

They watched as the Harbormaster rescued the kayaker. He had been in the chilly waters for at least 30 minutes, but because he was wearing a life jacket, he survived.

Donna and Chris are only here briefly for their upcoming nuptials on Saturday.

"Thank God that we heard him and that we were able to call somebody and save him," says LaMonica.

"It was just one of those things where we were in the right place at the right time and somebody needed help and I'm just glad we were here," says Rudolph.

It's believed the man was finishing when his kayak capsized.