While a drowning man prayed for help, God sent a float full of priests

When Jimmy Macdonald found himself struggling in the waters of Lake George in New York beside his overturned kayak, he thought he might die.

He had enjoyed a relaxing August day on the lake with his family, meditating and taking pictures. He kept his life jacket on the boat - he didn't think he would need it, he told Glens Falls Living.

But his kayak ended up drifting and he suddenly found himself away from shore and his wife and stepchildren. Despite the rough waters, he still thought he could return to shore, and so he motioned to several boats that had stopped to offer help.

But when his kayak overturned and his hastily worn life jacket reached his ears, Macdonald knew he was in serious trouble.

“I thought I was dying. I was absolutely helpless and wanted to ask for help sooner. I was waving my hand and asking God to help me, please, ”he said.

God answered her prayers, but not in the form of Jesus walking on the water.

"And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the tiki boat."

On board the floating boat were seminarians and priests of the Paulist Fathers of St. Joseph's Seminary in Washington, DC. The Catholic religious community had been on a nearby retreat and was taking a break on a boat chartered by Tiki Tours.

A handful of seminarians and priests helped the Tiki Tours staff to rescue Macdonald.

Noah Ismael, one of the seminarians aboard the boat, told NBC Washington it was "a movement of the Holy Spirit" that they ran into Macdonald at the right time.

Chris Malano, another seminarian, told WNYT that as Pauline seminarians, they are missionaries, and "that day, that was our mission, to be present and help someone in need."

Macdonald told WNYT that he took the rescue as a "sign from God" that his life still has a purpose on earth.

He also added that he found the rescue funny, in an ironic sense. Macdonald is a recovering addict who counsels others through addiction recovery.

"How funny is it that I've been sober for seven years and been rescued from a tiki bar?" He said.