Page 22 - Life Ring News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

They're still no closer to a rescue. hugh alexander is now exhausted trying to stay afloat and alive. and then -- >> hey, come on out. hey, no. hey! >> conditions seem right for another rescue attempt and alexander appears for the second time. as the lifeguards swoop in, you can hear the cheers from the relieved crowd up above. but it's not over yet. >> all of a sudden we saw the victim come out of the cave, the lifeguard grabbed him and got on to the jet ski and they took off only to fall off the back end because of another swell that washed him off. >> it's a nightmare that just won't end. l...

Footing, we'll end up under the ice under the water, and that was the last thing i wanted to have happen. >> moriarty can't know it yet, but he would soon face his greatest fear. but for now, they inch out into the raging waters, hoping to get the man a life ring. onshore, a rescue worker finds a suicide note from the man now fighting fiercely for his life. but carella and moriarty know nothing about the note, and they're able to make contact with the victim. >> we wanted to reassure him, tell him that we're coming to get you, we're here for you. >> he was able to yell loud enough that i can't...

Above, trying to get a rescue basket close enough for the man to grasp. >> we made four or five attempts to get him with the rescue basket. we got pretty close to him. the problem is with the treacherous air current, it was almost impossible to control the aircraft. >> at some point he said, i'm running out of power. we're not going to be able to do this. >> another failed attempt. the chopper returns to land so the team can come up with plan "c." and in the water, carella and moriarty know time is not on their side. >> at this time now, it's starting to get dark. gary and i were getting colde...

Tossing is repeatedly washed back to them by the strong currents. but co-pilot art litsinger suggests they get the life ring to the victim from the air. >> we're going to have to actually get fairly close and try to toss this ring out somewhere where he could get ahold of it. >> i knew our biggest problem was the rotor wash from the aircraft itself, the wind speed. and i was afraid we were going to knock him over. >> but they're willing to give it a shot. >> we're probably only about a foot or two off the water. we tried to get in close. i was trying to get our side of the aircraft in close to...

He's not on his own anymore. and we start to bring him in. >> as carella and moriarty watch their peers pull the guy to shore, the feeling of relief is short-lived. if standing feet from the edge of niagara falls isn't dangerous enough, almost unbelievably the stakes are about to go up even higher. the man slips under that menacing ice shelf, the very thing moriarty feared most. >> upon being dragged underneath the ice floe, the danger level increased 100%. he now is on a rope that is unable to be pulled back because he goes underneath the ice. he's also being dragged by a current that is unbe...