he Omaha Fire Department recognized local river-boater Joseph Antoniak III on Tuesday December 28, for his heroic efforts on September 1, 2004. 

Antoniak was enjoying a day of boating when he came upon an over-turned boat just north of the Dodge Park Marina. After tossing life-jackets from his boat to the victims, he jumped in to help three people ashore. One person died in the incident from an apparent medical condition, not from drowning.

OmahaRiverFront.com would like to join the Omaha Fire Department in recognizing Joseph Antoniak for the life-saving efforts he displayed during this event.

Each year approximately 700 people die in boating-related accidents - nine out of ten victims were not wearing a life jacket. Although Nebraska law does not require jackets be worn by persons over the age of 12, boating on the river can be dangerous so precautions should be taken in case of accidents such as the one noted above.