Jasper, Monroe Rescue Swimmers

Jasper County and Monroe County emergency personnel performed a collaborative rescue Sunday evening for two late night swimmers who managed to get stranded on the Ocmulgee River off Hwy. 83 near the Jasper/Monroe border.

Shawn Holmes, the Jasper County medic on duty when the call came in after 10 p.m., noted that Jasper services responded with an engine and ambulance immediately. The local 911 Director also alerted the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as the local rescue boat that is stationary at Jackson Lake was also called to the scene.

Medic Holmes said that upon his arrival at the river scene, the Monroe engine and boat were already on site. He then joined Monroe personnel in the boat as it entered the Ocmulgee waters.

There were three individuals in the water when the local medic arrived—one on the rocks, one hanging onto a tree branch, and a third individual that was there as an off duty volunteer for the rescue mission. The medic said that none of the individuals had injuries as they were just winded from fighting the river’s undertow. None of the individuals had to be transported to the hospital, according to Medic Holmes.

In addition to himself, other Jasper County personnel that were on duty responding to the incident included Suzanne Ward, Trey Standifer and Stephen Bernard as well as volunteers John Smith, Steve and Crystal Milligan, Matt and Mary Tumlin, Tim Mofield, and Ben Perry.