By FireRescue1 Staff
SAN JACINTO COUNTY, Texas — A firefighter was almost swept away in a creek while attempting to rescue other firefighters.
Houston Chronicle reported that firefighter Tyler Namken and two other firefighters from Punkin-Evergreen Volunteer Fire Department had to be rescued after trying to save two firefighters from Hudson Volunteer Fire Department who had been thrown into the water while trying to help a crew from Sam Houston Electric Cooperative run a cable across fast-moving water.
“The Hudson firefighters were pulling the cable through the water when they hit a wire fence and flipped their boat over. Both of the rescuers were thrown into the water,” Punkin-Evergreen Volunteer Fire Department Chief Rick Stevens said.
Namken and the rest of the crew came to help the stranded firefighters, but their boat tipped over after hitting a tree. All three firefighters were trapped in the water.
“We started throwing rope to them to pull them back upstream. Tyler grabbed the rope and it pulled her under the water,” Chief Stevens said.
Namken managed to free herself from the rope by popping the release on her life jacket, but she was sent downstream where she was able to grab a tree. Lt. Shayne Jones jumped in and helped her hold on until she could be brought to shore by ropes.
The two Hudson firefighters were also rescued with ropes.
“We have suspended operations for the night. It’s just too dangerous,” Chief Stevens said.
https://www.facebook.com/PunkinEvergreenVolunteerFireDepartment/posts/1582915795104845