RELIANCE, Tenn. — A joint Swiftwater Rescue training event over the weekend turned into a real-life rescue mission when three kayakers became stranded on a rock across the river in Reliance, Tennessee.
The Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Special Operations Division, in partnership with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and Etowah Fire Rescue, had been conducting the training to enhance multi-agency coordination and response capabilities for water-based emergencies.
After the training concluded, the team was unexpectedly called into action.
The kayakers had been stuck for over two hours when they were flagged down for assistance…