Forklift operator Zoran Pedisic assists Bill Schowalter. PHOTO: Tim Rogers

Forklift operator Zoran Pedisic jumped into 45 deg. F (7.2 deg. C) water to save Bill Schowalter, 90, from his attempt to commit suicide.

Mike Creger's insightful article in the 28 November issue of the Duluth News Tribune reported on Schowalter's difficulties in dealing with his wife's 2012 death, his subsequent depression and his suicidal tendencies.

Pedisic was working on the dock of Lake Superior Warehousing Co Inc, adjacent to the Duluth harbour basin on 1 November. He was at the controls of a Yale forklift with an 11,000 lb. (4,950 kg) lifting capacity, noticed a man out of place and walking toward the water and called out to him several times without getting a response. Then Schowalter went into the water.

Pedisic yelled "man overboard" into his radio and dived into the water. Co-workers responded with life rings, a rope and a stretcher.

Schowalter is getting treatment for his depression and, with family support, is relocating to an assisted-living facility.

A US Coast Guard officer plans to seek a special commendation for Pedisic.

Another Lake Superior Warehousing employee, Tim Rogers, captured the rescue in progress with his cellphone camera.