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PHOTO ESSAY: No Rescue Necessary |
Bill Hudson | 7/3/09
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 Glenn's son Carter and I heard the fire engine siren blaring as the rescue workers arrived in front of the American Legion Hall next to Town Park, just down the street from Glenn's house. I grabbed Glenn's camera, and Carter and I rushed over toward the new pedestrian bridge, where we saw emergency personnel throwing on life vests and pulling ropes out of vehicles.
This was not a practice drill; this was the real thing: trained rescue workers getting prepared for a swift water rescue.
Someone rafting down the San Juan River on this stormy June afternoon had accidentally flipped his raft and gotten caught underneath it — and someone had called 911.
I saw Pagosa Fire District chief Ron Thompson standing at the edge of the river, talking on his walkie-talkie as his crew arrived, equipped themselves and gathered under the bridge, obviously ready to jump into the swiftly flowing river as soon as the troubled raft appeared. Continued...
We waited.
And waited.
After several minutes of watching an empty river, Thompson got the call from other rescue workers upstream — the boater had successfully righted his craft and was paddling safely down the river. A minute later, we saw the rafter approaching — followed closely by a handful of recreational kayakers who had apparently made it their job to escort him down the San Juan.
The boater smiled at us as he passed under the pedestrian bridge. It was a friendly smile; I assume it was a slightly embarrassed smile as well. Continued...
The would-be rescuers packed up their life vests and ropes, as a light rain began falling. I tucked Glenn's camera under my shirt to protect it.
It hadn't been a very pleasant day for a swim, anyway. |
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