Incident # 25-03095 - Fire-Rescue responded to a report of three boaters stranded on the Edisto River Friday 18-April at 08:07. The temperatures were chilly at around 45 degrees and the water was moving rapidly. The father and his two teenage sons were in a Kayak and a canoe when they encountered a tree across the river. With the swift current the two watercraft became entangled in the tree, spilling the three occupants into the cold water. Firefighter-Paramedics put boats in the river at Jimbo Lane and Salcro Lane. They located the three individuals about an hour later between the two landings. The occupants were brought back to the Salcro Lane landing and were treated for mild hypothermia by Fire-Rescue Medic 7. Crewmembers on Marine 1 were able to "unwedge" the canoe and Kayak and also retrieve some of the boater's equipment. Due to the fast current, Marine 1 was unable to navigate around the fallen tree and used a private boat landing on the Dorchester County side of the river to deliver the canoe, kayak and gear. After warming in Medic 7, the occupants denied ambulance transportation to a hospital and were driven back to their vehicle up river. Units were on the incident for 2-1/2 hours.
Engine 7, Rescue 18, Medic 7, Marine 1, Dive 1, Dive 102, Marine 121, Marine 122, Battalion 1, Car 107, Car 105 and Car 112 responded. Captain KC Campbell served as Incident Commander.
