ALEXIS STEVENS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A training session turned into a real-life rescue for some Johns Creek firefighters.
When a kayak carrying a father and son flipped on the Chattahoochee River on Friday, firefighters learning swift-water rescue nearby were able to pull the two to safety.
"The next drills we were going to do were contact drills," firefighter Greg Rock told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "They did exactly what we had been training them to do."
As the father and son tumbled into the cold waters in Forsyth County, Rock and two other firefighters followed, pulling both to safety.
Rock, an instructor for a group of 12 students, said the kayakers were wearing life preservers when the boat flipped.
"It hit a wave the wrong way," Rock said. "The thing that really gets people is that it's faster than it looks," he said of the river.
Along with Rock, Bret Langston and Geoff Garcia made sure the father and son were safe and also managed to retrieve the kayak and a paddle, Rock said.
The father and the boy, who looked to be about 10 years old, decided to continue down the river before the rescuers got their names, Rock said.
"The little boy didn't look real crazy about getting back into the boat," Rock added.
When boaters fall into the river, they are immediately hit with water around 50 degrees, he said. "It's so cold that when people fall in, they aren't ready for it."
Friday's rescue was one of several by metro firefighters in recent weeks. Gwinnett, Roswell, Sandy Springs and Johns Creek firefighters are often called into action for water rescues, which prompted the Johns Creek department to create its own rescue team, Rock said.
Boaters should always wear life preservers, firefighters say. And by checking with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, those planning an outing on the river will know whether or not water recently has been released into Lake Lanier at the Buford Dam.
Water released from Buford Dam causes swift-water currents, and this gets some on the river in trouble, said Gwinnett County fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge.
Those wanting to get into the water should check with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at 770-945-1466 before and during an outing.
Copyright 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
June 6, 2010