Rescue crews save 5 on river

Fire chief: Two adults, 3 minors stranded when rafts became stuck under debris

FRANKSTOWN -- Two adults and three minors were rescued from the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River near East Loop Road Thursday after the two rafts they were floating on became stuck under debris buildup.

When first responders arrived, one individual was still in the water while the other four were stranded on the opposite river bank, Geeseytown Fire Chief Dennis Estep said. Of the minors, two were teenagers while one was a toddler.

"Everyone's doing fine," Estep said. "One patient was taken to the hospital for observation."

The water was in the medium range where it was a little too low for the boats but a little too high for a regular river crossing while still being quick-moving, Estep said.

"So what we end up doing is using the boat," Estep said. "(The boat operator) was hitting bottom so when he would hit bottom, he would lay off of it and let it float. It took a little bit to get across."

Another challenge rescuers faced was working against the clock to get the one individual out of the cold water.

"At this time of year, the water is still really cold, so any time you're in the water, you're going to get hypothermic," Estep said. "They were not wearing personal flotation devices when they were floating down, so that could have ended very badly."

Estep stressed the need to always have a personal flotation device when out on or in the water, saying that anything can happen.

"PFDs keep you afloat, even if you are unconscious and still breathing," he said.

Water rescues are the most dangerous thing that first responders do, being four times more dangerous than fighting a structure fire, Estep said.

"I mean, you get in trouble when you're fighting a structure fire, you can bail out a window," he said. "You get trouble when you're in the water, there's nothing -- Mother Nature's unforgiving. She doesn't care."

Cambria County's Swift Water Rescue Team composed of Nanty Glo, Jackson Township, Patton and Portage responded to the water rescue call when it came in shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday. Also on scene were the Geeseytown Fire Department, Williamsburg Fire Department and Hollidaysburg ambulances.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor is at 814-946-7458.