Man Rescued from Rising Waters in Clay County

A man was rescued from rising waters near Hord in Clay County Monday morning.

Emergency crews were called to the scene at 9:05am where the 81-year-old man's truck was stranded in flood waters, still on the roadway. Emergency personnel were only able to get within 600 yards of the vehicle. Reports are that the truck was eastbound near Myna Road on Ridge Road when the driver traveled through a section of the roadway that was flooded, and then attempted to go through another section where the water was believed to be deeper and became stranded. 

The Clay County Sheriff's Department, North Clay Fire Department, Clay County ESDA and Clay County Ambulance requested mutual aid from the Edgewood Bi-County Fire Protection District, Farina Ambulance Service, and Effingham County Dive Rescue Team to assist with the rescue. Area residents assisted by providing boats to aid in the rescue.

Members of the Clay County ESDA and the Dive Rescue Team were able to get to the vehicle at approximately 11am, then transport the man to an ambulance. He was taken to a local hospital for examination.

Clay County Sheriff Andy Myers said, "We are very fortunate to have such a great group of volunteers that provide service in our county and in surrounding counties. These individuals drop whatever they are doing at any time and risk their lives on a regular basis to save ours without any pay. We are very thankful to the two citizens that brought their boats out to provide assistance to the rescue units."

Authorities continue to warn motorists not to attempt to drive through water on the roadway as there is no way of knowing the depth or speed of the current. If you locate someone off in flood waters, contact 911 and allow the emegency services agencies to assist the stranded.