Two canoeists rescued from swollen Sheepscot River in
Whitefield, ME
Firefighters used a Gardiner Fire ladder truck to pluck
pair from rock in swollen river on Saturday.
BY KEITH EDWARDS
KENNEBEC JOURNAL, Waterville, ME
WHITEFIELD — Two canoeists were rescued Saturday from the
swollen, fast-moving Sheepscot River when firefighters used a ladder truck to
extend over the river to pluck the pair from a rock. Neither of the two men,
whose identities were not available Sunday, was injured. In fact, Whitefield
Fire Chief Scott Higgins said the men barely got wet. Higgins said the men’s
canoe came up against a rock as they were paddling. When they saw they were
likely to become stuck against the rock, they pulled themselves up onto it just
before their canoe collapsed and folded around the rock.
“We were dispatched to it and made the determination the
river was really fast. With rocks and everything, it would have been dangerous,
so we weren’t going to be able to pull them through the water to the shore,”
Higgins said. “We looked at the scene and thought we could get a ladder truck
down in there.” So Whitefield firefighters called for Gardiner’s ladder truck
and crew.
When they arrived, Gardiner firefighters extended the
truck’s ladder from the roadside, down an embankment and across the water to
reach the pair, who were stranded on the rock in the middle of the river. One
firefighter went out to the end of the ladder and guided the two off the rock,
onto the ladder and to dry land.
When they arrived, Gardiner firefighters extended the
truck’s ladder from the roadside, down an embankment and across the water to
reach the pair, who were stranded on the rock in the middle of the river. One firefighter went out to the end of the
ladder and guided the two off the rock, onto the ladder and to dry land.
The rescue occurred at about 6 p.m. Saturday, near Kings
Mills Lane, off Route 218, in the Kings Mills area. Higgins said the pair were
wearing flotation vests and were calm and appreciative when firefighters rescued
them.
Along with Whitefield and Gardiner firefighters,
firefighters from Pittston responded, providing lighting from the opposite side
of the river. Jefferson firefighters also arrived with the department’s
drysuits, in case they were needed for an in-water rescue. Higgins said he does
not recommend canoeing when the water is as rough and fast as it was Saturday.
He also said canoeists should know the river and where they are going.
