Mother, Daughter Stuck, Escape Tornado-Like Waterspout In South Jersey

Three people — including a mother and her daughter — had to be rescued from a waterspout after they were stuck in the mud in South Jersey on Sunday, according to authorities.

The Downe Fire/Rescue and Dive Team said it responded to the back marshes behind Fortescue and Dividing Creek at 4:12 p.m. and found three people lost and stuck in mud in a canoe.

The patients were found in good condition but said the waterspout came within feet of their canoe. A mother and her young daughter had to jump into a muddy ditch in fear of the canoe being tipped over, authorities said.

A waterspout is a rotating column of water and spray formed by a whirlwind — looking like a tornado — occurring over the sea or other body of water.

Units on location brought the three to Fortescue, where they were checked and released.

Photo courtesy of Downe Fire/Rescue and Dive Team