Sheriff rescues 10 along Burnt Corn

Jackson uses jet ski to locate and save group who were tossed from their kayaks

A kayak trip down Burnt Corn Creek Sunday almost turned tragic for two families after swift currents overturned the boats, sending 10 people to scramble for safety.

A 911 call from Michael Sherrer alerted the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Heath Jackson launched a jet ski and was able to pull everyone to safety.

Jackson said the group of 10, which included adults and children, had launched their boats north of the Highway 41 bridge for a trip down stream late Sunday afternoon.

However, Jackson said when the group got a few bends south of the bridge the kayaks began flipping over in the swift current.

“The water was up and the current was swift,” Jackson said. “The kayaks began hitting trees and stumps and all turned over.”

Jackson said two people drifted down stream to a sandbar and four were able to get into the woods. Two adults and two children were stuck in the middle of the creek hanging onto a log.

Sheriff Jackson said he received the call about 5 or 5:30 p.m. and he went and got the sheriff’s office’s jet ski. He said the Brewton Police Department helped him launch the jet ski at the train trestle in Brewton and he headed up stream.

He said he found the four clinging to the log in the middle of the creek but noted the strong current made it difficult to reach them.

“When I’d get close and put it in neutral I’d drift down stream,” Jackson said.

Jackson said he was able to grab each person, one at a time, and get them to the sandbar.

“I’d grab one and get them to land and then go back to grab another,” he said.

The rescue squad launched a boat and was able to get the 10 people back to O’Bannon Park in Brewton.

“People don’t realize how swift that water is, especially when the water is up,” Sheriff Jackson said. “It was hard for me to maneuver the jet ski so I know it was hard in a kayak.”

 
 
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