Incident # 25-05499 - Ten people were rescued from the Edisto River Sunday afternoon 13-July. At 16:14, Colleton 9-1-1 received reports of ten people in the river as a result of an overturned floatation device. Units from the DNR, the Sheriff's Office and Fire-Rescue responded to the incident and accessed the area from two landings, one north of I-95 and one south of I-95. What started out as a leisurely trip for two families, consisting of five adults and five children , nearly turned tragic in the swift waters of the Edisto. The group was on two large rafts when they were pushed into downed trees. The trees damaged the rafts, which caused them to deflate, dumping the people into the water. Fortunately the families were prepared and everyone was wearing floatation devices. Responders were able to rescue all ten people from the river and bring them safely to a private landing at the end of Liberty Lane. None of the people required ambulance transport to a hospital.
Engine 26, Medic 26, Marine 1, Battalion 1, Car 102, Car 110 and Car 111 responded. DNR responded with four units and the Sheriff's Office responded with a boat and personnel. Battalion Chief Brent Dalton served as incident Commander.
