3 KAYAKERS ESCAPE INJURY DURING THUNDERSTORM

A FAMILY KAYAKING ON WATSON LAKE ON SUNDAY FOUND THEMSELVES IN TROUBLE AFTER HIGH WINDS FROM A THUNDERSTORM FLIPPED-OVER THEIR KAYAKS.

PRESCOTT REGIONAL COMMUNICATION CENTER RECEIVED MULTIPLE 911 CALLS SUNDAY AFTERNOON OF OVERTURNED KAYAKERS ON WATSON LAKE. THE CALL CAME IN WITH AS MANY AS 5 KAYAKS THAT WERE FLIPPED OVER AND PEOPLE THAT NEEDED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.

WHEN THE INITIAL CREWS ARRIVED ON SCENE THEY ENCOUNTERED HIGH GUSTS OF WIND AND NOTICED DOWNED TREE LIMBS IN THE WATSON LAKE AND WATSON LAKE PARKING AREA. THEY RECEIVED REPORTS THAT A MOTHER, FATHER AND 12 YEAR-OLD CHILD REQUIRED HELP.

PRESCOTT FIRE STATION #74 LAUNCHED THEIR BOAT TO ASSIST THE PEOPLE IN THE WATER. IN TOTAL, ONLY THE FAMILY OF 3 WERE AFFECTED - THE OTHERS WERE ABLE TO GET BACK INTO THEIR KAYAKS AND RETURN TO SHORE. THE KAYAKERS WERE ALL WEARING LIFEJACKETS WHEN THE HIGH WINDS OCCURRED AND KEPT THEM ON DURING THE INCIDENT.

THE FAMILY WAS FOUND ON THE SHORE ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE LAKE AND THEY WERE BROUGHT BACK TO THE BOAT DOCK BY THE KAYAK RENTAL COMPANY.  ENGINE 74’S CREW CONTINUED TO SEARCH FOR ANY OTHERS INVOLVED AND FOUND NONE NEEDING ASSISTANCE. 

IN TOTAL, 2 ENGINE COMPANIES, 1 BATTALION CHIEF AND AN AMBULANCE CREW ASSISTED IN THE RESCUE. A TOTAL OF 9 EMERGENCY PERSONNEL WERE INVOLVED.

BESIDES BEING COLD, THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND EVERYONE RETURNED SAFELY TO THEIR STARTING POINT ON THE LAKE.