Two hunters rescued after boat capsizes
By John Joyce
Published in News on January 23, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Hunters Josh Williams and Travis Faircloth, center, are brought to shore by members of the Arr-Mac Water Response Team after their boat capsized in the Neuse River off of Ferry Bridge Road this morning. Members of the Arr-Mac Water Response Team helping in the rescue include Brandon Jones, front left, Chris Cato, back left, Kevin Massey, back center and Wes Barwick.
Search and rescue teams were called in early this morning after a boat capsized in the Neuse River off Ferry Bridge Road, throwing two duck hunters into the water.
The men were able to swim to safety but were stranded on the riverbank. Luckily, one of them had a cell phone.
Josh Williams and Travis Faircloth were able to call for help. The hunters were cold and wet, but not injured, Grantham Fire Chief Richard Proctor said.
"Our biggest concern right now is hypothermia," he said.
Proctor said the 911 call came in at 7:36 a.m.
The Arr-Mac Water Rescue Team, Grantham Fire Department, Wayne County EMS and Wayne and Johnston county sheriffs' offices responded.
Two Arr-Mac rescue boats were deployed and a third stood by. The Wayne County Sheriff's Office Air Watch team stood by as well, but the helicopter was not deployed.
Proctor said Williams and Faircloth went out on the river to hunt, and at some point both men fired at the same time, causing their boat to rock.
Wayne County Sheriff's Office Capt. Richard Lewis kept in contact with Williams and Faircloth via cell phone.
At 8:16, the men said they could hear the rescue boats in the water. By 8:19, they had made contact with rescuers.
Back at the boat ramp, Proctor and his team worked to coordinate the best way to get the men to safety.
A few moments later the decision was made. The announcement came over emergency crew's radio that the two victims were in the boat with the rescue team.
Proctor and his team let out a collective sigh of relief.
"At least it's not pouring down rain," Proctor said.
The river, which has been running high and fast since last week's rains, had only come down a foot or so from the high water mark left on the columns of the bridge visible from the boat ramp.
More rain is in the forecast today and Saturday.
"I don't know exactly how high it is, but it's high," Proctor said.
While he and EMS crews readied the ambulance to receive the two victims, Proctor offered a few boating safety tips for those still thinking of braving the river.
"Make sure you have a personal flotation device, a cell phone that can be kept dry and make sure someone knows your plan -- when and where you are leaving from and when and where you plan to arrive," he said.
The rescue boats returned a moment later, and Williams and Faircloth walked the long dock in soaking wet hunting gear.
EMS workers shielded the men with a sheet as they stripped out of their wet clothing and climbed into the waiting ambulance that had been kept running and warm.
Williams and Faircloth were checked out by EMS at the scene, and it had not been determined at press time whether they would be taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital.