Four Girls Rescued from River
Published: May 27, 2005
A grateful reunion along the banks of the Virgin River near St. George where four teenage girls were rescued from the fast-running water. The girls had been wading in the stream when they realized the current was too much for them. Their close call serves as a serious reminder of just how dangerous the high water is in Utah as we approach the Memorial Day weekend.
Authorities have been putting out the warning for weeks: When spring runoff picks up steam, getting in or even near fast-moving water can be dangerous, even deadly. Luckily for four young girls from Washington, they lived to tell about their ordeal.
The four teenage girls were wading in shallow water of the Virgin River and kept going in a little bit deeper, not realizing the strength of the current.
Lt. Cory Pulsipher, Washington Co. Sheriff’s Dept.: “The water’s quite swift out there and it’s deep. In fact, they stated that as they got out there in it, it was up waist high and they started to get caught in it and swept away and they kind of made a chain and made it out to the island they were on.”
The girls stayed on the sandbar for a while and then tried getting back to the shore once again.
Laura Hawk, Washington: “And then we tried to go back and then when we tried going back we just couldn’t go. And then i fell in the river and got some scrapes.”
After that the girls knew they were stuck and started calling for help and waving at passing motorists. A woman phoned for help from her car, and help was soon there.
The Washington City Fire Department along with the County Sheriff’s Department came up with a plan. Two men got in the water with ropes and worked their way to the girls as others held the ropes from the shore. Once there a boat was sent over and the girls got in. A daisy chain anchored to a pickup truck on the shore was able to pull the boat to safety.
Other than one girl with a few cuts and bruises, they’re all just fine and very grateful to their rescuers.
Calie Pugmire, Washington: “Thank you to the people who came to help us, especially the lady who called the 9-1-1.”
Sarah Stucki, Washington: “Yeah, thanks.”
Many rivers and creeks in Utah are running much higher than the Virgin and could pose even more danger to anyone who goes in. The bottom line: Stay away from dangerous waters and be especially careful with children and pets so they don’t get swept away.
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