Three teens rescued by TCSO Swiftwater Team

After three teens were rescued Wednesday from the Kings River, Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux again urged people to stay out of the water.

The Kings River has been closed by the sheriff all season due to above-average annual snow melt that has created dangerous conditions including extremely cold water and swift, deceiving currents. The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office has responded to eight fatal drownings and more than 24 swiftwater rescues in Tulare County’s rivers since April 14.

“Stay away from the river’s edge and don’t enter the water, especially if you do not know how to swim or have been consuming alcohol,” Sheriff Boudreaux said. “Arrive safe and go home safe.”

The drownings total could have been much higher if not for the work Wednesday by TCSO’S Swiftwater Dive and Rescue Team.

At approximately 5:26 p.m., TCSO received a call that three juveniles, ages 15-16, were heard screaming for help in the dangerous currents of the Kings River. The juveniles were reported to not be wearing life jackets and were in distress. They were not on a raft or any other flotation device. The juveniles were last seen in the river near the Kings River Country Club.

The first units arrived on scene within 12 minutes and began search and rescue operations with the assistance of the Tulare County Fire Department and California Highway Patrol Helicopter H40.

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office deployed its Swiftwater Dive Rescue Team and two rescue boats. At approximately 6:04 p.m., rescuers were able to hear the screams of the juveniles approximately a half mile downstream near the northeastern shore.

All three were brought to safety at approximately 6:15 p.m. by Sheriff’s Swiftwater Team.

In a press release detailing the rescue operation TCSO stated, “Please do not approach the river’s edge or enter white water under any circumstances. The current conditions in many of our waterways are not survivable despite safety equipment, training or experience in white water. Inner tubes or other small flotation devices are inadequate and extremely dangerous as they are easily overturned in the swift currents.”