Injured Kayaker Rescued in Rhode Island

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — Fire crews and other emergency personnel in South Kingstown, Rhode Island rescued an injured kayaker from the Chipuxet River on Sunday evening.

Members of the Union Fire District and Kingston Fire District were sent to the Chipuxet River in West Kingston at around 7:45 p.m. Sunday for a report of a woman with unspecified injuries, according to a release from Union Fire Chief Steven Pinch.

Fire crews from stations 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 responded with boats, while South Kingstown police and the Rhode Island Environmental Police used a drone to find the injured boater.

Get our free mobile app

The person was deep in an isolated part of the river, according to the release, and the fire department members tried to make their way to the person's location.

Two members of the Union Fire District who were in kayaks managed to find the injured woman and guide her back to a safe spot to remove her from the river.

South Kingstown Emergency Medical Services evaluated her at the scene, according to the release.

"This is not a typical type of response for our volunteers, but it shows the level of training they receive and the high-level rescue services our members provide the community even in very challenging conditions," Pinch said.

“We are very thankful that the individual in this case was able to be safely rescued, and we are grateful to our fellow first responders for their assistance in locating and rescuing this person from the river."