Lost kayakers rescued

Three kayakers who launched at Fisher Landing in Century Sunday night to go fishing on the Escambia River got lost and were found after a long search and rescue by multiple agencies.

“We got a call about 7:30 Sunday evening for three kayakers over from Fisher Landing,” said Jay Volunteer Fire Chief Tony Simmons. “On the way there, we got coordinates from the 911 telephone they had with them. Once we arrived, we launched boats.”

Simmons said that when they went down the creek headed for the coordinates, they discovered there was no access to them by boat, so it turned into a ground search.”

“We were in the process of blowing the siren to get them to come toward us,”said Simmons. “In that process, they got turned around so we eventually had to go into the swamp and get them out.”

Simmons said the kayakers had cell phone service up until about an hour and a half until they got them out before the batteries died.

“They had no shoes and no flashlights,” said Simmons. “By the time we got them out of the woods around 3:30 a.m., they were dehydrated, cold and tired.”

Simmons said the three got transported to the Jay Hospital Emergency Room by LifeGuard once they were found.

“Multiple agencies from both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties participated in the rescue,” said Simmons. “Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Jay Volunteer Fire, Century Volunteer Fire, Allentown Volunteer Fire, North Baldwin Search and Rescue, and other agencies all pulled together to find them.”