Young rafters are rescued from the Stanislaus River. Helicopter assisted with rescue
A group of young rafters was rescued Sunday from the Stanislaus River after a raft failed, authorities said.
Around 7:15 p.m., Modesto fire and rescue units were dispatched to Jacob Myers Park near Riverbank on a report that juveniles were stranded in the river.
Emergency responders searched the area and did not find anyone.
The rescue units later received information the juveniles might be downstream on the Stanislaus near Caswell Park. A rescue helicopter responded and located the young rafters.
The helicopter removed them to safety. A Modesto Fire Department incident report said the juveniles did not require medical attention.
The department did not disclose the names or ages of the juveniles. Battalion Chief Jerardo Avila said no other details were being released.
The Stanislaus River has been running well below flood stage, unlike other swollen waterways in the region due to extreme weather this past winter. Still, people are advised to use caution with recreation on the Stanislaus River.
“We know it’s highly recommended to take precautions and use the appropriate equipment and rafts designed for the waterway,” Avila said.
People using inflatables in rivers should read the labels to make sure they are rated for use beyond a swimming pool. Modesto Fire Department Deputy Chief Darin Jesberg has told The Bee there is usually labeling on the device that tells where they can be used.
Pool floats and even some rafts are not meant to be used near the sharp branches and other hazards found on a river, and this could lead to a puncture such as the rafters this weekend encountered.
“They’re very thinly walled devices, and they don’t have much puncture resistance,” Jesberg said. “That’s when people start to get in trouble.”
