Rescuers from Clackamas Fire Stay Overnight with Stranded Family

The call came in at 8:30 Friday night. A family of six was stranded on the Sandy River after their raft became struck on rocks. To make matters more dire - one member of the family is diabetic and needed help.

The water rescue team from Clackamas Fire District 1 sped to the location. Arriving there, they realized the only ay to reach the victims was to hike down a long trail.

They started making their way down.

At the same time, a Life Flight helicopter was dispatched to the scene. Searching the area, they found the family and managed to get them blankets, promising that help was on the way.

The helicopter then landed on a nearby sandbar - aware that the family member with diabetes might need to be rushed to the hospital.

The firefighters made it down the end of the trail and managed to free the raft from the rocks. Two firefighters floated with the family down the river to the next trail head.

Four of the six family members were then able to hike out to safety.

The other two - elderly members of the family were too weak to make it to the road.

The firefighters set up camp to make the couple as comfortable as possible and spent the night with them, keeping them safe and reassured. When the sun came up, they all made the journey to Oxbow Park.

The rescuers and the couple arrived around 9:15 Saturday morning. The firefighters then helped the family get their raft.

Officials at Clackamas Fire say there are two important lessons: always wear a life jacket and always give yourself plenty of time to make it back in case an emergency occurs.

File photo from Clackamas Fire District 1