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Alberni woman rescued from Stamp River

A 25-year old Port Alberni woman is in good condition after being rescued from atop a log in the middle of Stamp River.

A 25-year old Port Alberni woman is in good condition after being rescued from atop a log in the middle of Stamp River.

Emergency crews responded to the call of a woman in distress at Stamp Falls at 3 p.m., RCMP Cpl. Jen Allan said.

Police and members of the Beaver Creek fire department arrived to find the woman trapped on a log on the downside of the Island on the Beaver Creek Road side of the falls.

The woman and two male friends were tubing down Stamp River in wet suits when the going got rough and they became separated.

“They ran into difficulty with the swift current and debris when she became trapped,” Allan said. “She had to pull herself on a log for her safety.”

Port Alberni Search and Rescue responded to the scene with six members, four of who are swiftwater specialists, PASAR spokesperson Mark Palmer said.

Two swiftwater SAR personnel placed an inflatable kayak in the water made their way to the woman. Once there they outfitted her with a helmet and lifejacket, removed her from the log and floated safely to the 'slide pool' area where they exited the stream, Palmer said.

The woman was checked out by B.C. Ambulance members and found to be in good medical condition, Allan said.

Summer is over but the river is used year round. The public should be forewarned of using it at this time of year. “A tremendous amount of skill is required to navigate swift current,” Allan said.

reporter@albernivalleynews.com