By JON BAKER

LINCOLN — Neither Police Chief Brian Sullivan nor Lime Rock Fire Department head honcho Frank Sylvester found it particularly surprising that Joe Amaral was called a hero on Wednesday afternoon.

Pure and simple, Amaral — a 47-year-old Department of Public Works sewer division employee who doubles as a Lime Rock call firefighter — saved a 15-year-old boy from drowning in Scott’s Pond on Tuesday afternoon.
“I’m very proud of him, and I would expect nothing less but the best from him; that’s the kind of guy he is,” Sylvester said.
“I’m not surprised he would risk his life for another. When it comes to fires, he’s always one of the first into a blaze and one of the last out. That’s great news!”
Like the veteran fire chief, LRFD assistant Arthur Jacques claimed it was in Amaral’s character to do such.
“You know, I saw him today at about quarter-to-seven (a.m.), and he didn’t say anything,” Jacques offered. “That’s just like him. He’s a really low-key guy.”
According to Sullivan, his department received a call at about 3:30 p.m., Tuesday from a Saylesville woman saying she heard cries for help from the pond area.
Patrolman Kevin Marcoux immediately responded to the scene.
Sullivan added two teen-aged boys, one 15, the other 16, had chosen to “beat the intense heat“ by taking a plunge, then decided they would attempt to swim the pond’s length.
“Joe had been working at a sewer pump station on the other side of the pond, off Lonsdale Avenue, and another woman told him she had heard the same yells,” Sullivan explained. “She thought one of them was in trouble, so Joe immediately got in his truck, drove to the Saylesville Fire
Department (which abuts the water) and spoke with (Chief) Dave Almond.
“Joe and Dave responded to the end of Sayles Avenue, ran down a hill to the edge of the water and noticed the boy (from Lincoln) struggling to stay afloat,” he added. “He was about 80 feet off shore, and bobbing up and down. Joe took off his boots, jumped in, swam out and rescued the boy.”
In the interim, Almond had called rescue personnel, who evaluated the boy and deemed him OK.
“He was just tired; he couldn’t swim the distance,” Sullivan said. “I will say this should provide a message to kids: There’s a reason why people should swim only in a protected area, with lifeguards, and this is a perfect example of what not to do. It turned out very well, but this incident could’ve had a tragic result.
“I do know the boy was very thankful that Joe had gone out there to help him,” he added. “I understand Joe may have recently attended a water-safety training seminar. If that’s the case, boy, that was time well-spent.”
Sylvester promised he would recommend a commendation for Amaral, a husband and father of two children, one about the same age as the boy.