A must read: Very close call at water rescue in North Carolina

In North Carolina, there was a very close call last (Monday) night for members of the Madison-Rockingham Rescue Squad. They responded to a car in a rain swollen creek with a victim inside the vehicle. Below is their account from the Squad’s Facebook page:

First we want to say that we know the risk we take when we agree to accept this responsibility. We train hard, try to obtain the best of equipment, and rely heavily on TEAMWORK. We post this so someone might understand what we do.

Last night while most slept, watched Monday Night Football, or simply enjoyed the comfort of your home, a car ran off the road and entered a creek. Due to heavy rains that creek that is normally just inches had grown to ten feet of fast moving death and destruction. This is only a brief description of what a group of hard working VOLUNTEERS were able to accomplish as a TEAM. First responders arrived to find a car with someone in it over taken by this “creek”. They could hear the screams for help, the vehicle was covered in water, it was then swept away. More help arrived, two highly skilled, equipt, and ready rescuers entered the water, got the victim, but were swept away. A second entry team of two, highly skilled, equipt, and ready rescuers made entry to now rescue not only the victim but two of there own. Those men and their vessel were also over come. Now the screams for help are our brothers, our friends, our own. One ground team recovered the original rescue team and the victim, but we still have two missing in the darkness. The request for help and I have lost contact with my partner come over the radio, then muffled but rushing water, bubbling, terror, and the sound of drowning. Now only silence. That man’s training and equipment helped him get back above water. He made radio contact after what seemed like forever. “I am up, I can’t find my partner, I need help now!” The second ground crew locates him. There is no safe means of recovery. A member of that team then enters the water, risking his own safety to save his brother, and he recovers him. Now just one more is missing. That team locates the last man. Everyone is back on dry ground. All victims, and rescuers accounted for. Operations to Communications……”We have a PAR.”