**For Immediate Release**

Re: Multiple Agencies Work Together to Perform Water Rescue

From: Lt. Jim Bussell- Rapid City Fire Department

Office: (605)-394-4180

jim.bussell@rcgov.org

Date: 6/20/2019 2:30 pm MDT

Multiple Agencies Work Together to Perform Water Rescue

Rapid City, SD – Just before 11:00 am on Thursday, Pennington County 9-1-1 received a report of a kayaker in distress in Rapid Creek near Braeburn Dog Park. Units from Rapid City Fire Department Stations 1, 3 and 5 responded as well as units from Pennington County Search and Rescue, the Rapid City/Pennington County Water Rescue Team, the Rapid City Police Department and South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.

Reports indicate that the kayaker entered the water just upstream. She encountered a strainer that flipped her kayak. A strainer is a barrier in the water that can be naturally occurring or human made. A strainer allows water to pass through but a human body or a vessel –such as a kayak or canoe– will not. Strainers are incredibly dangerous and pose a life threatening risk to the unsuspecting victim. High water flows have resulted in a number of these hazards, many of which are unseen because they are under water. The kayaker was submerged for a short time but was able to surface on her own. She was unable to exit the creek due to fast moving water and fatigue. Bystanders called 9-1-1 and remained on scene to direct rescuers.

A crew from Station 5 arrived within five minutes of dispatch to find a kayaker still in the water with her kayak downstream. Engine 5 immediately sent members of the crew downstream in case the victim were to be swept away as well as establishing an upstream spotter to watch for debris or other kayakers coming down the creek. Establishing this “box” is a key step to a successful rescue. Once Fire Rescue 3 and Water Rescue members from RCFD Station 3 arrived, they were quickly able to enter the water, swim across the stream and assist the individual to the bank and out of the water.

The side of the creek that Water Rescue members and the kayaker had moved to was very steep and inaccessible. Because the kayaker was showing signs of mild hypothermia and was fatigued from struggling against the water, a decision was made to float the victim back across the creek. To accomplish this, crews would establish a rope line across the creek and send an inflatable boat known as a Rapid Deployment Craft (RDC) to the other side. Once the craft and an additional rescuer were at the victim, she was fitted with a personal flotation device (PFD) for the trip back across the creek. At 12:09 pm, just over an hour after entering the water, the kayaker was safe and reunited with her loved ones.

The individual was evaluated by RCFD Emergency Medical Services. She refused treatment and transport.  

Stream flows in the Braeburn Park area were recorded at about 650 cubic feet per second during the rescue. The water averaged between four and six feet in depth.

A successful outcome to this incident is a direct result of many, many hours of training and dedication by members of multiple agencies. Water rescues are high risk, low frequency events that require interagency cooperation.

This incident should highlight the dangers associated with fast moving water. Even experienced kayakers and boaters can easily find themselves in danger. The RCFD encourages the use of personal flotation devices (PFDs) by all that choose to spend time on the water.

For questions or comment related to this release, please contact Lt. Jim Bussell with the Rapid City Fire Department at the information provided above.

-END-

RCFD Resources Responding: Engine 5, Medic 5, Fire Rescue 3, Water Rescue 1, Battalion 1, RCFD PIO, RCFD Training Specialist

Other Agencies Responding: Pennington County 9-1-1, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, Pennington County Search and Rescue