Harrowing moments as boat dangles at top of reservoir dam

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. – A Virginia family is grateful after being rescued from a small fishing boat only inches away from tumbling into a Virginia reservoir Monday evening, reports CBS Richmond affiliate WTVR-TV.

The incident happened around 5:30 p.m. at the Goose Creek Reservoir Dam in Loudoun County.

Crews said a man called and said he and his family were stranded in a boat on top of the dam after the motor failed in family’s boat.

He said the boat drifted toward the 20 foot dam and stopped with a portion of the boat hanging over the edge.

The man was on the boat with another adult and three small children.

Fire and Rescue units from surrounding areas were rushed to help.

“The swift moving current made the boat very unstable and all the occupants were seated in the bow of the boat to keep it from falling over the dam,” Loudoun County Fire and Rescue wrote in a statement. “With the exception of one adult, all were wearing life vests.”

Members of the rescue crew tried to reach the family using an aerial ladder, but the boat was too far from shore.

While crews were getting a life jacket to the other adult on the boat, first responders were sent downstream with rescue equipment in case the vessel fell over the dam.

Once the water rescue team arrived, rescuers connected a tow rope to the fishing boat and pulled the family safely to shore.

The family members were evaluated by EMT crews on the scene. There were no injuries.

“Swift water rescue incidents are among the most dangerous (rescues) we perform,” said Chief Keith Brower with the Loudoun County Fire. “In this case, five lives were saved due to the combined efforts of the men and women of our Fire and Rescue System. I am extremely proud of their efforts.”

Officials said the incident highlights the importance of Coast Guard-approved life-jackets. They are reminding boaters to wear the flotation devices at all times during boating operations.