What started as a search for a possible drowning victim had a happy, if perplexing, ending early Sunday morning when a rescue mission was started, stopped and then completed while most lake residents were still asleep, said Capt. Al Busch of SML Marine Volunteer Fire/Rescue.

Busch said Fire/Rescue responded to a call at 12:45 a.m. near Bridgewater Marina. The caller reported that a woman either fell or jumped from an anchored houseboat and was unable to swim back.

The caller, who told Fire/Rescue he was unable to swim, said he had thrown the unidentified woman a life ring when she was about 20 feet from the houseboat. He then went to Mango's Bar and Grill to get help. When he returned, the woman no longer was in sight.

About 40 personnel from Fire/Rescue, Scruggs Dive Team, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Franklin County Sheriff's Department and Franklin County Public Safety career personnel were involved in the search that lasted for hours. Dr. Charles Lane, medical director for Franklin County EMS, and Daryl Hatcher, Franklin County public safety director, also were on site.

Busch said fire boats patrolled the waters while divers searched below. Fire/Rescue's VideoRay equipment (a submersible camera), night vision goggles and searchlights also were used. Around 5:30 a.m., Busch said the search was called off. It was to be resumed at 11:30 a.m.

"Three of the Marine Volunteer personnel remained on the scene for the rest of the night with the VideoRay camera continuing the search," he said.

Around 6:30 a.m., Marvin Tuck, a Moneta resident and retired chief of the Moneta Fire Department, set out in his fishing boat. He killed the motor when he heard a faint cry across the water. Busch said Tuck saw the woman, whom Busch said looked to be in her 40s, in the water and threw her a seat cushion, but was unable to pull her into the boat. He called to a fellow fisherman, but they still were unable to help.

While the fisherman held onto the woman, Tuck traveled by boat to Bridgewater Marina and alerted Fire/Rescue, said Busch. Members Greg Waters and Diana Rainville boarded Tuck's boat and the three returned to the woman. Meanwhile, Fire/Rescue member Alan Cook contacted the Moneta Rescue Squad.

After Waters and Rainville pulled the woman from the water, she was transported to Bridgewater Marina and treated until Moneta Rescue Squad arrived. She was then transported to Bedford Memorial Hospital for treatment.

"Mr. Tuck said she was in really bad shape," said Busch.

Busch said he did not know how or why the woman entered the water or if she had spent the entire night in the water.