Boat stuck in New River, three people rescued

On the New River in Narrows, a boat is stranded between the rocks, flooding with water. Fishing poles and a cooler are still left inside. On Friday night, the Giles County Sheriff’s Office says three young men were rescued from the water, but weren’t hurt. John Wadsworth camps at the riverside and saw what happened.

“I was down there on the rocks fishing and there were three or four people coming down in the boat - a little flat-bottom john boat. They got sideways and hung up on the rocks down there,” said Wadsworth.

David Vicenzi owns New River Canoe Livery and gave Ten On Your Side some perspective on that area of the river. He says it’s an easy spot to get hung up.

“It’s a technical Class 3 rapid. You gotta have some experience to go through it. And people fish there a lot and think they know what they’re doing, and they don’t,” he said.

Vicenzi says there are a number of things you should know before going out on the river, but the most important is to make sure you know the water. That’s why he gives out maps to his customers before they go out in the canoes.

It happened at about 8:45 Friday night and the rescue happened at about 10 p.m. 

“In general, I’d get people off the river before dark. Because after dark you’re in trouble, you can’t see the rocks and can’t really read the rapid,” Vicenzi said.

As the water keeps flowing, people around here say, “It is dangerous down there and the rocks and stuff,” Wadsworth said.

It’s something to keep in mind throughout the summer so your boat doesn’t get stuck, or worse.