“When I asked them what happened, they were quiet at first,” Bartell said. “But after I cracked a few jokes, they relaxed.
That’s when I snapped the photo — two best friends, arms around each other, smiling through exhaustion.”
An emotional reunion followed at the boat ramp, with family, friends, and rescuers cheering through tears.
“One little girl shot through the crowd and gave me the biggest hug I’ve ever had,” Bartell recalled. “We both had tears in our eyes.”
