Flood waters from Sougahatchee Creek off North Ashe Court swamped five people in a canoe Thursday afternoon, Dec. 24.
The Auburn Fire Division and the East Alabama Fire Protection’s Swift Water Rescue Team responded to North Ashe Court to rescue the five people in the flooded creek, according to an AFD press release.
Two adults and three juveniles were trapped in the flood waters as two Auburn firefighters maneuvered a flat-bottom boat for a water rescue, according to the release.
The five victims were in a canoe wearing life jackets when it capsized, according to AFD radio traffic at 2:18 p.m.
One male victim was rescued from the water in the flat-bottom boat at 2:55 p.m., but the other four victims were not accessible because of the fast current, according to the release.
The boat was moved upstream from the victims, and the firefighters moved the boat downstream using a rope system.
As they approached, the two firefighters fell from the boat into the water, according to the release.
The two firefighters were able to meet up with the four victims downstream, and the East Alabama Fire Protection’s Swift Water Rescue Team was called.
The rescue team used an inflatable Zodiac boat to travel upstream in the swift current and rescue the four victims and the two firefighters at 4:47 p.m.
No one was injured in the incident.
“The fire division would like to thank the residents of (North) Ashe Court for their assistance with geographical information which was relayed to the fire division during this incident,” the press release stated.
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