Crime & Safety

Firefighters Rescue Tubers From Chattahoochee

Two adults and two children missed takeout point and became separated from larger group. Two found clinging to tree limbs; other two managed to reach river bank.

Firefighters from Gwinnett Fire, John's Creek Fire, and Forsyth Fire departments converged on the Chattahoochee River Wednesday afternoon for a swift water rescue after four people became separated from a larger group and were stranded near Abbotts Bridge in Duluth, a Gwinnett Fire spokesman reported. The distress call was received at 4:46 p.m.

The four (two adults and two children) were tubing down the river and missed their takeout point. They were separated from the larger group, and two were found clinging to tree limbs when rescue personnel arrived, Capt. Tommy Rutledge said.

Two of the four were able to exit on their own and were safe on the river bank. A rescue boat from the John's Creek Fire Department gained access to the two remaining victims and safely retrieved them from the water, he said.Β 

Find out what's happening in Peachtree Cornerswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

All four were evaluated by John's Creek Fire and were released at the scene. They did not appear to have any injuries. "We are thankful that today's incident on the river had a positive outcome," Rutledge added.

It is common to have Swift Water Rescue Teams from several agencies bordering the river responding to a distress call on the water, Rutledge said. Each department deploys specially trained firefighters in the river at different points in order to cover wide areas and quickly access potential victims.

Find out what's happening in Peachtree Cornerswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Firefighters encourage river users to monitor changing conditions and to check water generation schedules with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Peachtree Corners