By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–On the morning of Friday, April 1 the Helena Fire Department responded to a call of three people trapped in Buck Creek after their canoes overturned in swift water.

The HFD was successfully able to pull the three male victims to shore after performing a swift water rescue at approximately 10 a.m. just 500 yards from Buck Creek Park.

Helena Fire Medic Chris Miller was on the scene and described what happened and how the rescue was performed.

“Four people decided to launch two canoes in Buck Creek and the water is up because of the rain,” said Miller. “The water was probably five foot deep and rushing. Their canoes hit some trees and became caught and they were standing on logs and couldn’t swim to either side because of rushing water. We set up a highline across trees and deployed a banana boat and lowered it downstream to them and pulled them over to shore one at a time. We went back and forth until everyone was rescued.”

Miller said that the victims were fortunate that they were able to stand on the logs and did not become trapped under the water.

One of the four victims was able to swim to shore safely while the other three victims were not injured during the rescue.

When asked what advice he’d give to those wanting to canoe or kayak down Buck Creek, Miller responded saying safety should be the top priority.

“Safety should come first and it’s very important to not get in unfamiliar rushing water,” said Miller. “People think it’s fun but it’s not. You never know what is below the surface of the water and you can easily get trapped.”