Accident occurred at Wells Falls. The boat was a tandem canoe.
Emergencies
Woman flown by Healthnet after being rescued from Tygart River
by: Joey Rather, WBOY
Aug 8, 2025 / 02:38 PM EDT
MOATSVILLE, W.Va. (WBOY) — A woman was flown from Barbour County to Morgantown Thursday night after multiple crews helped rescue her from the Tygart River.
According to a release from the West Virginia State Police, at around 7 p.m. Thursday night, crews were alerted to a missing boater in the Tygart River near the Cove Run access point, which is near the headwaters of Tygart Lake.
When crews arrived on the scene, they learned that Bonnie J. Brady, 61, had been swept downriver and over a series of waterfalls after a boat that she and her husband were in had capsized. Brady was reported missing at that point.
Corporal Ben Stout of the West Virginia State Police and Barbour County Sheriff’s Deputy Josh Mayle then traveled more than a mile downstream on foot in an attempt to locate Brady, who they eventually found and gave first aid.
Crews with Barbour County EMS and every single Barbour County fire department assisted in evacuating Brady from the river and transporting her to a landing zone, where Healthnet took her to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. There was no official word on her condition as of Friday afternoon.
According to the Philippi Volunteer Fire Department, the woman’s husband was also taken to the hospital by ground as he “appeared to be having a medical emergency” while crews were tending to his wife.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include additional information provided by the Philippi Volunteer Fire Department.
