| Three rescued from Obion River |
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Posted: Thursday, July 12, 2012 11:38 am
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Three people stranded on inner tubes in Weakley County on the Obion River were rescued July 4 by the Weakley County Rescue Squad.
The three people, including Candice Kirby of Dresden, were rescued north of Hazlewood Road outside of Martin. The other names were not available. One of the victims was reportedly seven months pregnant.
Ms. Kirby called in to 911 to report she and two others were stranded on the river shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday.
According to Weakley County Emergency Management Director Jamison Peevyhouse, the three were unsure of their location by the time the sun was setting that evening.
Unable to drop boats into the river due to the significant lack of rainfall leading up to the patriotic holiday, members of the rescue squad walked the banks in search of the trio.
Three members of the Weakley County Rescue Squad were joined by Weakley County Sheriff’s deputy Jonathan McDowell, two civilians and Peevyhouse.
Five members of the Obion County Rescue Squad responded to a portion of the Obion River off Highway 431, just east of Union City. Joining them was an Obion County sheriff’s deputy.
The group of emergency responders from Weakley County used two Polaris vehicles to get down and into the river and the rescue from the water was made on foot.
The three victims were taken back to their vehicles about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, and all were reportedly uninjured.
“The rescue went really well. It was pretty much textbook,” Peevyhouse said the following morning. “We went up and down the river and, because there was such a broad range of where they were located, we relied on sound to guide us to their location.”
WCP 7.10.12
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