Prince William County, MD - Swift Water Helicopter Rescues - 05/31/09

[helicopper 1,050]

Date: 05/31/09

Time: 1:00 PM

Location: Occoquan River Dam

Departments: Prince William County Fire Department, Fairfax County Police, Fairfax County Police Aviation, and United States Park Police Aviation

Description: A boat with two fishermen on board became disabled and was pulled by the curent to a dam in the Occoquan River. The fishermen jumped from the vessel just before it was swept over the dam to the rocks/river 50 feet below. The two fishermen held on just upstream from the dam. FD and PD personnel responded and due to the nature of the rescue, requested the US Park Police Aviation Unit and Fairfax County Police Aviation Unit to rescue the two victims. Fairfax County (operating a Bell 407) lowered a line with helmets and life vests for the two men but one of them grabbed the rope. Fairfax County then performed an impromptu short-haul rescue delivering the man to a waiting FD boat upstream. The US Park Police (operating a Bell 412) responded and hoisted the second victim to safety.

Rescuers are certain that the conditions would have caused fatal injuries had the men gone over the dam and waterfall. The boat was destroyed.

Links: Satellite View of Scene

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx...5&catid=187

Writer: Chris192