Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ST. GEORGE -- A young woman nearly drowned in the Virgin River Saturday.
Police said an undertow swept the 19-year-old down the river around 5:30 p.m. at the spot where it passes under Interstate 15 just south of St. George.
The woman's group pulled her to safety with a rope, but when police arrived she was unconscious.
She was taken to the hospital and is now recovering.
Officials say this incident serves as a reminder people need to be careful around rivers, especially now because of spring runoff.
The St. George Police Department issued the following basic water safety tips:
- Even shallow water can have strong undertows when moving rapidly
- Learn swimming and swimming survival skills
- Always swim as a group
- Check for hazards both where you are swimming and down stream
- Do not mix swimming with alcohol and drugs
- Do not trespass or enter into unauthorized areas to gain access
