By Joyce Portik
Clay County Fire & Rescue
On Monday, May 20 two women were enjoying a day of kayaking when they came across a tree in a section of the swift running Hiawassee River in Clay County. Unfortunately, that tree flipped both women into the cold river. The women were wearing life vests and one of them made it to shore safely despite the swift currents. The other woman was stranded in the river and standing on a tree limb.
Clay County Fire and Rescue Station 1 responded to an emergency dispatch. Units responded to Spoon Hill Drive which was near her and made contact. A decision was made to relocate to the recreation park where easier access could be made to get the department’s boat to her.
The boat had been pulled last fall for repairs and updating which was recently finished. The boat was launched with Chief Brian Anderson and Firefighter Seth Merritt aboard. They took the department’s rescue boat to the stranded woman’s general area and deployed a raft which successfully retrieved the woman.
She was taken back to the shore where EMS was waiting to provide medical attention. The formerly stranded woman confirmed that she was fine; just cold and didn’t need medical attention. Subsequently, Service 1 took the women back to their vehicle. The rescue boat proceeded to Lake Chatuge where it stayed for the remainder of the holiday weekend.
Swift Water Search and Rescue has been a priority for Clay County Fire and Rescue. A number of its volunteers have completed the rigorous training involved as well as the physical endurance training needed to become certified in swift water rescue and their expertise was needed today.
Be safe in all you do and know that CCFR remains ready to help no matter what the emergency on the water or on land.