Deputies rescue men in water at C.J. Reservoir

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Three boaters were rescued Thursday afternoon by the Elmore County Sheriff's Office boat patrol after their boat capsized due to high winds at C.J. Strike Reservoir near the Air Force Marina.

One of the three men in the small craft made it to shore and contacted a camper who called Elmore County dispatch just before 2 p.m.

The sheriff's office's marine deputies, Laytreda Schultz and Rick Bohling, quickly hooked up and drove their rescue boat from Mountain Home to the reservoir and had the other two men out of the water within 45 minutes of receiving the call.

The two men, who weren't wearing life preservers and were in the water for over an hour, stayed afloat in the frigid waters by hanging onto a plastic bag that had been inflated.

Due to weather conditions, air ambulances could not reach the area. Ground ambulances staged at the Idaho Power North Park recreation area and as soon as the men were rescued took them Elmore Medical Center in Mountain Home. None of the victims appeared to have life threatening injuries. The were treated for hypothermia.

The men have not been identified at this time.

An attempted recovery of their boat, which sank, is underway.

The investigation is continuing. No further details were immediately available.

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