Trapped Boaters Rescued on Wapsi River in Independence Area

Two trapped boaters were rescued on the Wapsipinicon River in the Independence area early Wednesday morning.

The Independence Fire Department says emergency crews were dispatched for a river rescue call in the 2000 block of Wapsie Access Boulevard shortly after 2:30 am. 

Crews found two males who needed to be rescued after their boat broke down. One of them stayed in the boat. The other left the boat and tried to walk to shore, but he became trapped in thick mud up to his waist. Family members who were on the scene said he had been stuck in the mud for about two hours before they called for help. 

Rescue crews quickly deployed the fire department’s RDC (banana boat) and went out to rescue the male stuck in the mud. He was safely returned to shore and checked over by emergency personnel as a precaution. 

Crews then re-positioned and deployed again to go rescue the male in the boat. That male was also safely returned to shore.

photos courtesy of Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office