A water rescue brings everyone in safely, but with some mild injuries to attend to.
The Eau Claire Fire Department and the Eau Claire Police Department were dispatched to the Dewey Street bridge for a water rescue. It was reported that 4 tubers were clinging to a tree on the South side of the Eau Claire River upstream of the Dewey Street bridge. Police officers and fire personnel arrived to find 4 teenagers holding onto a tree in the river. None of the tuber were wearing personnel floatation devices (PFD).
Fire and police crews were able to get PFD’s and ropes to the victims. Fire personnel donned swift water rescue suits and worked their way to the victims in the water. 3 of the victims were pulled to the shoreline by crews and one victim floated down to a fire department rescue boat. All victims were safely rescued with only minor bumps and bruises. One fire fighter received minor injuries when a rock fell off the steep shore line and struck him on the head, shoulders and back.
The Eau Claire Fire Department would like to remind tubers and all water enthusiast that although the local rivers look calm and shallow, please realize that they can be very dangerous especially near trees and brush that have fallen into the river.
