Family rescued along Beaver Creek

FREDERICKTOWN - The Chester Volunteer Fire Department, along with its hovercraft, were called in to assist in the search for a man and four children after low water levels in Beaver Creek left them stranded.

Captain Steve Marek of the CVFD said the man and the children had been canoeing in Beaver Creek Saturday night when they reached a point where low water levels prevented the canoe from traveling any farther. They then left the canoe behind and began walking in the woods toward their starting point.

Marek said the CVFD was called out at about 10:30 pm, after the children's mother realized they had been gone too long. While the location of the canoe was known, where the family had walked to was not. "Luckily a fisherman came over and said he had seen them walking," said Marek.

Marek said he continued on until he saw firefighters from other local departments conducting a search. When the five canoers were spotted with flashlights on the other side of the creek, Marek said he pulled his hovercraft onto the shore, at which point a safe path was made to it for them.

Marek then transported the family two at a time, first the children, who he said appeared to range in age from eight to 11, and then the man back to the dock they had started out from.

Marek said they had been walking at least an hour and have traveled about a mile from the place their canoe was stuck. "That's a long walk in the woods when it's dark," he said.

Marek said the canoers were safe and unharmed. The scene was cleared at 11:44 pm.