Large group of family, friends rescued from Cape Fear River near Erwin
According to the Erwin Fire Department, 16 people were rescued from the Cape Fear River after being stranded for a few hours Monday evening.
Posted — UpdatedOne person was able to make it to shore and call 911 around 9:55 p.m. The caller said that a group had been floating on tubes around lunchtime, but when it got dark, they were not able to find their way out.
As of 11:30 p.m., everyone was rescued and safe.
The group was a mix of children, teenagers and adults, according to video captured by WRAL. Once they were safely back at the fire station, firefighters gifted each of the rescued with a new Erwin Fire Department T-shirt.
According to one mother in the group, the group had departed from Lillington and had planned to be out of the river near Erwin before sunset. The group was a gathering good friends who were making their third trip down the river, she said, adding that they had "almost made it to the bridge" when they called for help.
"We took the long way," she told WRAL News. "But we had a great time!"
The Erwin fire chief told WRAL News the river was "extremely low," which accounted for group's long trip. Agencies from Buies Creek, Erwin and Summerville all helped with the rescue.
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