RALEIGH — Our recent rain has swollen local rivers. Wednesday night, two kayakers took on the Neuse and nearly lost.

Fast rushing water trapped them under a bridge. One managed to struggle to shore and call for help. The other held on to a tree branch until rescue teams arrived.

"There was about this much air space between the water and the bridge," the kayaker explained. "And I bumped my head on it three times and couldn't get no breath."

The kayakers are fine, but their boat is gone.