Archived Thursday, September 23, 2004

Would-be rafters fished out of river

By Carolyn Mathews

Around 3 p.m. Saturday, four adults purchased a raft and attempted to float along the rain-swollen Chattahoochee River in Helen. Their trip ended 75 yards later.

White County Assistant Fire Chief Dick Howard said Tuesday that all Helen tubing locations were closed after Hurricane Ivan dumped several inches of rain on the area Thursday night, causing the Chattahoochee River to flood out of its banks.

However, he said, the two men and two women, all in their late 20s and early 30s, put their raft in the water at Cool River Tubing and set out.

They became stuck between a log and the bridge a minute later.

The group was not able to cross the swift current of the river in order to reach the bank.

Howard said the area where the group was stuck was waist deep, where it usually is about two to three inches deep.

Howard said a Station 8 (Helen) firefighter donned a life vest and put a rope around his waist, heading out to the frightened group. One by one, the rafters were ferried with life vests and then taken to shore, holding onto the rope.

Howard said one man thanked the rescuers, saying in effect that he, along with everyone, experienced moments of stupidity.

Howard said the fire department was not able to get the names of the four people because they went up the bank to the emergency ambulance as soon as they were rescued.

After being evaluated by emergency personnel, the four climbed into their car and left the scene.