Two people were rescued from the Mississippi last evening after deciding to go swimming. The Clinton Fire Department responded to the call about 7:25 last evening to the report of two people in the river around Willow Island, off the bike path on the levee.
After gaining access to the levee and proceeding to the scene the first arriving crews found the two people in the water hanging on to trees of the flooded island. The Clinton Police Department helped shuttle ambulance crews to the scene with the police department all-terrain vehicle. The Fire Department’s rescue boat used a nearby boat ramp to access the river in case the victims were swept away.
The 25 year old female and 30 year old male had been in the water for 30 to 4o minutes and the fire department personnel reported the two were having difficulty maintaining a hold on the trees. Fire Department rescue crews determined they must enter the water for a rescue and a firefighter used the rescue/survival suit with a secure line to the shore to enter the water. Battling the strong current, debris and the cold water the female was brought to show about 15 minutes after the crews arrived at the scene and the male victim was brought to show a couple of minutes later.
An investigation revealed the two entered by river at the island to go swimming but were overcome by the swift current. They were evaluated at the scene by fire department paramedics. The two refused treatment and were released.
