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State Police Rescue 12 From Raging River

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Jun 22, 2009 10:32 am US/Eastern

State Police Rescue 12 From Raging River

Harpers Ferry, WVA (WJZ) ―

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A dozen people, most of whom were children, are likely tired but thankful Monday morning after they were rescued from the raging waters of the Shenandoah River Sunday night when two Maryland State Police helicopters appeared out of the darkness and hoisted them to safety.

The stranded victims are said to have included ten children and two adults, ranging in age from four to 41-years-old.

Jefferson County Fire and Rescue received a call from someone who heard people screaming for help in the Shenandoah River near Bull Falls, not far from Harpers Ferry. The Friendship Fire Department responded to the scene and found that the raging waters and large number of rocks in the river at that location prevented any type of rescue by boat or rope line. The fire department called for help from the Maryland State Police Aviation Command.

The children were being splashed by the water and appeared to be in imminent danger of hypothermia and exposure. Hovering over the scene, Pilot Zullick and Sgt. Lehman dropped the rescue basket to the rocks four times and hoisted five victims into the helicopter. The victims were flown to an elementary school in Harpers Ferry where they were turned over to fire and EMS personnel.

TFC Levasseur dropped the rescue basket to the victims clinging to rocks throughout the river. Three more victims were taken to the landing zone for treatment. Trooper 5 returned to the river and hoisted the remaining four victims to safety.

All the victims are expected to survive their ordeal. It is believed the group had been rafting or tubing in the river when the fast moving rapids caused them to become stranded on the rocks.