Columbus Fire Department: Whitewater trainee revived after near drowning By joey ripley March 12, 2016 Chattahoochee_River COLUMBUS, Ga. – Columbus Fire and EMS tell News 3 that rescue efforts to save a reportedly drowning guide trainee were successful. Reports came in around 4 p.m. Eastern that EMS workers went down to the Chatthoochee Riverwalk to check on the possible drowning victim. The kayaker was in the vessel with a Whitewater Express guide, who says the kayaker was under water for about ten minutes. EMS was able to pull the kayak onto the rocks, where they they performed CPR on the victim. A fire official tells News 3 that the kayaker did eventually come around. He is now breathing and readily conscious. Whitewater Express held a training day Saturday for more than 100 new guides that will be needed throughout the spring and summer months.