By Simone Jasper
The Charlotte Observer
TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY, N.C. 鈥� Rescuers were swept away while trying to reach stranded boaters on a North Carolina river, officials said.
Several people were taken to the hospital after the Tuesday, Jan. 9, according to Connestee Fire Rescue Inc.
鈥淚t was completely unforeseen,鈥� Fire Chief Chase Owen told The Transylvania Times. 鈥淪ometimes things like this .鈥�
The day of the mishap, with powerful winds and heavy rain. In Transylvania County, first responders were called just before 6 p.m. to reports of people screaming in an frequently, according to rescuers and WLOS.
A group had been trying to get to their livestock, which were 鈥渟urrounded by flood waters.鈥� Three people were in a boat on the French Broad River when it was swept away and overturned, sending them into the water, Connestee Fire Rescue wrote in a news release.
Crews used a drone to find the stranded group before setting out on boats to reach them. But one of the rescue boats experienced a 鈥渃atastrophic incident鈥� when it capsized and got lodged against a bridge, officials said.
鈥淭wo members of the vessel crew were able to exit the river quickly,鈥� rescuers wrote. 鈥淭wo more members of the crew were swept downstream approximately 75 yards and were able to reach an area of refuge and wait for more crews to rescue them. The fifth and final rescuer was swept approximately 150 yards downriver before reaching an area of refuge.鈥�
The three crew members who got swept away were rescued with the help of first responders from other counties. Everyone on the rescue boat 鈥� including members of Connestee Fire Rescue, Rosman Fire Rescue and Transylvania County Rescue Squad 鈥� was taken to a hospital with 鈥渕ild hypothermia鈥� and released. No major injuries were reported.
鈥淪wift water is extremely dangerous and can be unforgiving, especially at night,鈥� the Transylvania County Rescue Squad wrote in a Facebook post. 鈥淭he rescuers on this incident, most all volunteers, truly put their lives on the line to .鈥�
The group that the first responders originally tried to reach also made it to safety and received treatment, officials said.
Connestee Fire Rescue is based in Brevard , roughly 30 miles southwest of the popular mountain town of Asheville .
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