Rescued kayaker may have been trying to install Charlie Brown cutout on Christmas tree raft

A kayaker rescued from Nashawannuck Pond by firefighters in Easthampton, Massachusetts, on Monday may have been trying to install a Charlie Brown cutout on the raft that holds a Christmas tree in the middle of the pond, according to Fire Chief David Mottor.

Firefighters rescued the man, found clinging to the raft, at around 8pm on Monday. They later returned to the raft to retrieve the man’s boat. Inside, they found a 3-foot-tall cutout depicting the likeness of cartoon character Charlie Brown, according to Mottor. Mottor said he believes the unidentified man was attempting to install the homage to the Peanuts character.



The man was taken to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton for treatment of possible hypothermia. Police Capt. Robert Alberti said that he does not believe the man will be charged with a crime because it does not appear any laws were broken. He said the kayaker was in his mid-40s.

Some communities have threatened to make people pay for the cost of their rescues if reckless behaviour led to an emergency rescue. But Alberti said that has never happened in Easthampton in the 16 years he has worked there. “We’re going to help whoever needs it,” he said. It also did not require any extra costs, such as overtime, because officers and firefighters who responded were already on duty.