Five Family Members Rescued After Tubes, Kayak Get Stuck In Swatara Creek: Hershey FD
Officials from the Hershey Fire Department reported that five family members were saved from the Swatara Creek after their tubes and a kayak became stuck on rubble close to a railroad bridge.
The location of the Swatara Creek water rescue.
On Friday, July 4, the Hershey Fire Department reported that persons were in trouble near the railroad bridge over the water, prompting the dispatch of Hershey Fire and several mutual-aid departments to the stream.
Four tubes and one kayak had become stuck on a mound of debris in the water, crews were told. Four family members flowed downstream, but one person was able to crawl onto the wreckage.
Despite contradicting reports, Pat Leonard, the fire chief for Hershey, established incident command and managed the response. The victims were promptly found by a drone crew that was sent in a matter of minutes.
According to police, all five people were successfully pulled from the river by rescue boats from the Lower Swatara Fire Department, River Rescue, and Hummelstown Fire Department.
As a precaution, EMS assessed the family members and took them to a local hospital. Fire officials said that the fact that everyone was wearing personal flotation devices helped to avert the disaster.
