Amid the heavy rains that swept through the area on Friday, Prince George's County firefighters rescued three teens from the swollen Northwest Branch waterway.
Crews responded shortly after 7 p.m. to the 38th Street Bridge in Mount Rainier after a resident reported three males stranded under the bridge by the swift-moving water, according to a department press release.
Units from Bunker Hill, Hyattsville and Chillum responded, as well as the Technical Services Team and rescue boats from the Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad and Marine Division.
Firefighter Joe Ford was placed into a harness after a system of ropes and pulleys were set up and was lowered over the bridge and down about 25 feet to the water.
He communicated with the teens and explained the rescue to them. Soon, one-by-one they were raised to the top of the bridge by about 8:20 p.m.
All three were treated for hypothermia by paramedics and were transported to a local hospital in good condition.
