What should've been a casual Sunday kayaking trip turned into a harrowing rescue by helicopter for a group of kayakers on the Potomac River in Maryland.
According to WUSA, 10 kayakers had to be rescued after rough waters on the Potomac River left them stranded as their boats floated down the river. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue received calls around 2:30 p.m. local time on Oct. 6 as rescue units with Loudoun and Fairfax counties sprang into action.
After the river swept away the kayaks, three people were stranded on a rock near the George Washington Canal, while a few others were shipwrecked, so to speak, on Seneca Beach Island. A handful of other kayakers didn't even make it to land and were struggling in the water near Blockhouse Point.
Helicopters with the U.S. Park Police and Maryland state troopers were deployed to help rescue the kayakers from their dire situation. Boats rescued the ones in the water and those on the rocks nearby and transported to the nearest piece of land. The four trapped on Seneca Beach Island were airlifted in baskets by helicopter and dropped off on land.
First responders then checked the 10 kayakers for injuries once they were safely on firm land. No injuries were reported and no one was taken to the hospital.
If there's any silver lining, it's that the kayakers were stranded together, even in small groups throughout the area.
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