Authorities say four tubers who were trapped in the fast-flowing water of the Puntledge River in Courtenay have been rescued.
Happening Now: Large emergency response for 4 tubers who are trapped in fast flowing water of the Puntledge River in #Courtenay. Waiting for search and rescue. 2 have made it to shore. @CHEK_News pic.twitter.com/TfbuaWQVby
— Dean Stoltz (@deanstoltzchek) July 6, 2018
Four people, including a young girl, were going down the river on tubes near the end of Willemar Avenue late Thursday afternoon when they ran into an overhanging tree and fell off the inflatables.
Two of the tubers managed to make it to shore but a man and child could be seen clinging to the tree as they waited for rescuers who told them to stay where they were or risk being swept away.
“They are where they are because the river has obviously been more than what they can handle and at this point we tell them to sit where they are and wait for search and rescue to come and grab them with their boat and take them to safety,” explains Capt. Greg Lamb of the Courtenay Fire Department.
Members of the Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue team were able to wade out to the stranded tubers and help them to shore.
None of the four were injured but officials say only one of them was wearing a life jacket.
Update: The four tubers who ran into trouble on the Puntledge River in #Courtenay have now been rescued by @ComoxValleySAR @CHEK_News pic.twitter.com/Ka1sHI1iAH
— Dean Stoltz (@deanstoltzchek) July 6, 2018
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