DEERFIELD — Four tubers made it safely to shore at Stillwater Bridge after needing to be rescued from the Deerfield River on Wednesday afternoon.

According to the tubers, all women visiting from Rhode Island on a day trip, one member of their group flipped her tube and the group was unable to make it to an accessible part of shore. They called 911 at around 2:50 p.m., prompting a response from the Conway, Deerfield and Charlemont Fire departments, as well as the Deerfield Police Department.

Deerfield Assistant Fire Chief Ben Clark said personnel found the tubers stranded on shore a short time later, just under a mile from where they had launched at Bardwell’s Ferry Bridge.

Inflatable rescue craft from all three towns contributed. Despite being considerably closer to Bardwell’s Ferry Bridge, personnel had to bring the tubers approximately 3.5 miles downstream to the next access point at Stillwater Bridge because the rescue craft could not travel upstream, according to Conway Fire Chief Bob Baker.

One tuber, who suffered an ankle injury, was brought to safety shortly before 5 p.m. She was transported via Conway Ambulance to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton. The other three tubers, who were uninjured, save for one woman’s scraped knee, arrived at Stillwater Bridge at around 5:45 p.m.

Baker said shallow river conditions and portions of the river with rapid flows impeded more efficient access to the tubers. He noted there were also rocks close to the river’s surface due to its shallowness that could have caused injuries.

Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com.

]]>