Three Teens Rescued From Poudre River... On the Fourth of July 2005, around 5:00 P.M. three females were stranded on a small ‘island’ in the Cache Le Poudre River near Kinikinik and West Hwy 14 while tubing. They had apparently encountered higher and faster water than expected and sought safety on a pile of rocks towards the middle of the stream. They were 17, 18 and 19 years old, from Fort Collins and Greeley, CO. The girls were tubing without life jackets. The Larimer County Emergency Services, Search & Rescue and Dive Rescue Team, along with Volunteer Fire and Rescue personnel from both Poudre Canyon and Glacier View responded. The estimated 25 staff and volunteers were able to return them to the rest of their church group at approximately 6:30 P.M. Some of the Search and Rescue volunteers had just come from carrying out a deceased camper from up in the Rawah Wilderness area. Emergency Services Coordinator, Sergeant Don Griffith, advises everyone, that the rivers are ‘up’, meaning greater volumes of water, running higher and faster than normal. Sgt. Griffith and the Larimer County Sheriff, Jim Alderden, ask people to use life jackets, good sense, safe practices and take extra care when in or near the rivers and lakes. This includes scouting the area and being aware of the weather. “We want you to have fun, but please be careful,” they said. |