Colleton County Fire-Rescue responded to a report of three boaters stranded on the Edisto River on April 18th. The temperatures were around 45 degrees, and the water was moving rapidly. The father and his two teenage sons were in a kayak and a canoe when they encountered a tree across the river. The swift current entangled the two watercrafts in the tree. The three occupants fell into the cold water. Firefighter-Paramedics put boats in the river at Jimbo and Salcro Lane. They located the three individuals about an hour later between the two landings. The occupants were brought back to the Salcro Lane landing and were treated for mild hypothermia by Fire-Rescue Paramedics. Crews were able to "unwedge" the canoe and kayak and retrieve some of the boater's equipment. The occupants were warmed after rescue and chose to deny ambulance transportation to the hospital. They were driven back to their vehicle upriver. Units were on the scene for 2 1/2 hours.
