ALBRIGHT, W.Va. -- Two men were taken to Preston Memorial Hospital late Thursday after their boat overturned in the Cheat River canyon.
Firefighters from Albright and Kingwood, and swift-water teams from Masontown and Triune-Halleck fire departments were called to rescue three men from the river Thursday afternoon.
The fire departments were alerted at about 4:45 p.m. to three men who went into the river after trying to cross it while tracking a bear. Their boat overturned, according to firefighters.
One man swam to shore and was taken by KAMP Ambulance to Preston Memorial Hospital. One man walked out on his own. The third, who firefighters said was not a strong swimmer, was stranded on a rock in the middle of the river. He was rescued at about 8:15 p.m. by Trooper 5, a Maryland State Police helicopter that lowered a rescue basket to him. He was also taken to Preston Memorial.
Firefighters were at the scene for more than four hours.
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is investigating the incident. No further details were available at press time.
Copyright 2012 - The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
