Making the worst kind of dive to help

V. Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute

Diving can be a life changing experience, and not always for the better. But new Jefferson resident Al Wright is ready to help whenever, wherever he’s needed.

“[Al’s friend] Dave and I were looking for any of the task force or emergency groups that would say ‘Come on down’,” said Wright. “Heal-Corp offered us a spot, and we went [to Kerr County].”

Al spent to Central Texas on July 8 to help rescue efforts following the flooding, and then spent 11 days diving to help the search, rescue, and recovery efforts.

“I could only see my hand about six inches from my face,” he explained. “After that it’s just absolutely black.”

Al wouldn’t talk specifics about the dives and the recoveries, but said it was a slow process to get into areas identified by other teams.

“The [rescue] dogs would identify a location and we’d start,” he said. “We drop down, until we kind of felt it and then come back out, and then we’re going back, 10-12 feet deep, can then come back up and move over and come back up. So we’re going like this trying to make sure we cover the entire area And we need to get up in there and look at it, make sure it’s safe. Kind of start peeling it back a little bit.

“I’m not going to talk about the angels part of it. Out of respect for them and the families. No one wants that information,” he said.

Al said the days began about 7a with briefings, then the teams would start, finishing up 10-12 hours later, having done numerous dives over a 5 mile section of the river.

Each day they drove out of the area, using the time to decompress and prepare to start over. 

“The community was incredible,” he said. “They offered us lodging, food, comfort, and time to ourselves.”

He said the support people working the disaster were sometimes the biggest way to keep going.

“One day we were at a ramp area, and the DPS let a guy through. The guy just kind of walks up real fast, and you see his bright red shirt that says ‘Free Hugs.’ It was a simple gesture, but it means a lot,” he said. “It made a difference in the day and made a difference in and how you feel.”

Al said the man reached back out to him a week later just to check on him. 

“The amount of water was unreal,” he said. “It was sobering to see the aftermath, and the lives which were impacted and will never be the same.”

And yet, Al is waiting for the next call.

“I’m thankful that all these years [God] gave me the ability, the skill, the knowledge. And as old as I am, and I can still do this.”