First Responders Rescue Family Stranded On Neuse River During Storm

WILSON’S MILLS, N.C. — What began as a peaceful evening on the Neuse River quickly turned into a fight against the elements as a family of four found themselves trapped on the water during one of Sunday’s most intense thunderstorms.

As heavy rain poured from the sky, lightning flashed overhead and darkness settled across the river, the two adults and two children realized they were in trouble.

Their call to 911 set in motion a massive rescue effort involving nearly 50 Johnston County first responders willing to put themselves in harm’s way to bring four strangers safely back to shore.

The local family had launched their boats shortly after 6 p.m. from the Fire Department Road bridge, expecting a short trip down the Neuse River. Instead, they found themselves caught in a fast-moving storm that dumped inches of rain across Johnston County.

As conditions deteriorated, emergency dispatchers tried to determine the family’s location on the river. Contact was eventually lost, leaving rescuers searching in darkness while rain continued to fall and lightning lit up the sky.

Johnston County dispatched four swift water rescue teams, multiple fire departments, law enforcement officers and five Johnston County EMS ambulances.

Rescue boats entered the river despite the dangerous conditions, searching downstream from the Fire Department Road bridge.

The family was eventually located along the riverbank roughly 200 yards downstream from where they had launched. They had managed to reach land but were unable to safely leave the area because of the storm and rising river.

Rescuers carefully transferred the two adults and two children into inflatable rescue boats before transporting them downstream to the Johnston County Water Treatment Plant, where Johnston County EMS crews were waiting.

Although all four were soaked from the storm and shivering from the cold, none suffered injuries. After being evaluated by EMS, they were released at the scene.

Looking back on the ordeal, one admitted the family had underestimated both the weather and the river. “Next time we’ll start in the morning—and check the weather.”