Student thought missing after canoe flipped found safe

Two Washington & Lee University students are safe after their canoe overturned in the James River near Balcony Falls on Wednesday night.

One student made it to a phone just after 10:30 p.m. and told 911 dispatchers his partner had been missing since about 8 or 9 p.m., Amherst County Public Safety Director Gary Roakes said.

Rescue crews from Amherst County and Big Island responded, but it was later determined the missing student had gotten out of the water and found a ride back to Lexington, Roakes said.

Roakes said the county receives two or three similar calls a year. He urged caution on the river, especially in the late afternoon and evening.