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LITTLE GRAND CANYON, Emery County — A woman was rescued Thursday after holding on to a canoe for four hours, floating down the San Rafael River, officials confirmed Friday.
On Thursday afternoon, Emery County Sheriff’s Office received a satellite phone call from a man who reported that he and his wife were floating in the San Rafael River when their canoe capsized. He said he made it to shore but his wife was missing.
Search and rescue crews were dispatched to the area between Fuller’s Bottom and Swinging Bridge.
A Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter was dispatched from Salt Lake City to help in the search. The helicopter crew found the woman in the river 8 miles from where the canoe had capsized. Officials said the woman was wearing a life jacket and had held on to the canoe for the four hours she was in the cold water.
“Quick response by (Emery County Sheriff's Office) and SAR personnel, in addition to the DPS helicopter, made for a happy ending to a very dangerous situation,” a statement by the Emery County Sheriff’s Office said.
The identity of the man and woman were not given.
