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Man Rescued, Transported To Hospital After Kayak Capsized

BEAVER COUNTY (KDKA) – A man capsized while enjoying a ride in his kayak, Sunday.

The Potter Township Volunteer Fire Department received the water rescue call around 1:00 p.m.

According to Chief Victoria Carlton, Potter Township Volunteer Fire Department, a 35-year-old male was kayaking in Raccoon Creek in Potter Township when the boat flipped over and floated downstream, leaving the man stranded and clinging to a tree branch near shore.

First responders had to track down the kayaker's location. He was still hanging on when crews caught up with him.

"We had to get a boat to him. We had to extricate him onto the boat, cross back over and extricate him out of the woods into the ambulance," Chief Carlton told KDKA.

The man was treated for hypothermia and transported to the hospital.

There was a second rescue, according to Carlton.

A witness saw the man struggling in the water and tried saving him.

The man reportedly got into his truck and drove through the woods to reach the man in the water. He was unsuccessful due to his truck getting stuck in the woods. Crews helped him to safety and he was taken to a warming shelter.

Beaver Falls, New Brighton, and Royal Dutch Shell water rescue teams assisted. The Raccoon Township VFD was also on the scene. None of the first responders were harmed during the rescue, Carlton said.

No other injuries were reported.

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