Calif. Firefighters Rescue Family Stranded in River
Source Oroville Mercury Register (California)
OROVILLE, Calif. -- A fun day rafting on the Feather River took a bad turn Thursday for Andrea Thompson and her two children when their rubber raft popped.
But it ended with a fast water ride and rescue by the Oroville Fire Department.
Thompson and her daughter Kami, 9, and son Drew, 5, were merrily rolling down the river in a raft around 4 p.m. Thursday when the raft popped near the west side of the river.
The family walked to a sandy cove on an island on the west side of the river across from Centennial Park and yelled for help.
"I didn't want to swim across the river with the kids," Thompson said.
The river is running swift and high right now with water releases for spawning salmon.
The Fire Department sent the Search and Rescue water craft to rescue the family.
Capt. David Hillson drove the water rescue craft, and fire engineer/water rescue Tyler Mallinger rode holding the children.
After three fast water rides to the boat ramp in Riverbend Park, the family was lifted safely to shore.
Drew thanked intern firefighter Alex O'Hara for rescuing them and gave him a high-five.
Fire Capt. John Webber said they don't rescue a lot of stranded people on the river, but it happens occasionally.
With the swift water Thursday and mild summer weather, rafters flocked to the river.
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