Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman stated that his Emergency Communications Center received a call at 6:32 pm on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 of a male that was stranded on a log in the flood waters of the Scioto River on State Route 104 at State Route 348.
Deputies and the Valley Township Fire Department were dispatched to that location, finding the male on a log and brush in the Scioto River, just north of the State Route 348 bridge at State Route 104. Valley Township Fire Department contacted the Portsmouth Fire Department’s Swift Water Rescue Team to respond, as well as the Morgan Township Fire Department who took incident command. It was determined that the incident was in Morgan Township.
It was learned that two teens and a 21-year-old, all Mennonite males, were hunting for beaver and that the 21-year-old was swept away in the flood waters. We were advised that the 21-year-old was in a kayak.
Piketon and Waverly Fire Departments responded with watercraft to assist in the rescue. The Portsmouth Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team made several rescue attempts, but due to the force of the water, they were unable to reach the victim.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) responded to the scene with a jet boat. Two ODNR Officers, assisted by a Portsmouth Fire Department swift water rescue member, were able to reach the victim and bring him to shore at approx. 11:58pm.
Once the rescue team reached the shore line the victim jumped from the boat and ran to the rescue squad for warmth. He did refuse to be transported to the hospital.
Sheriff Thoroughman would like to thank the Portsmouth Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Morgan and Valley Township Fire Departments, the Waverly and Piketon Fire Departments as well as the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for all of their assistance and hard work in this difficult rescue. Sheriff Thoroughman would also like to thank the Wellston Fire Department swift water team, who were enroute to assist, however the victim was rescued prior to their arrival.
