TRIO DISAPPEARS DOWN RAIN-SWOLLEN LITTLE KANAWHA RIVER - Search-Rescue Effort Launched

(06/09/2011)
1:30 AM WEDNESDAY - A search was on late Tuesday night for three males who got into a small oar boat about 4:30 p.m. at Munday Beach near the Calhoun-Wirt County line.

Calhoun Control received a call for assistance at 11 p.m. for search and rescue.

The males, described as teens or in their 20s from Wood County, disappeared down the rain-swollen Little Kanawha River, leaving two companions at the beach.

Sources at the scene indicated the males confiscated the boat which was floating down-river.

The incident happened shortly after a severe storm swept through the area.

Calhoun 911/OES Director Kathy Wood was attempting to obtain special river rescue services and a chopper with infra-red detection when the trio was discovered downstream by members of the Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Grantsville firemen had fanned-out in vehicles, scouring the river area between Munday Beach and Creston. The Little Kanawha cuts through a remote area with primitive roads.

Where the trio was discovered nine hours after they entered the boat was not learned, but radio reports said they were uninjured.

Firemen were bringing them back to Munday Beach to reunite with their friends.