CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — Two kayakers were rescued from Lake Drummond in the Great Dismal Swamp Friday afternoon, a Chesapeake fire official said.
The Chesapeake Fire Department responded to a call from a kayaker for a medical emergency at Lake Drummond, in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge at 4:44 p.m. Multiple units, including a fire boat and swift water rescue company, responded.
Crews launched from the Dismal Swamp Canal ramp at Ballahack Road and went through the feeder ditch to Lake Drummond, where they found two middle-aged men, one of them suffering from a heat-related illness and was moved to Chesapeake Fire Boat 8.
Medics on Boat 8 treated the man and took him to a waiting medic unit, where he got more treatment and was released at the scene.
Both kayakers had launched from the ramp at around 1:30 p.m. Friday and headed toward Lake Drummond, but due to the hot temperatures, they were not able to make the return trip.
Chesapeake Police, along with the fire department’s swift water rescue team, also assisted in the rescue efforts.
The Chesapeake Fire Department cautioned people to plan well if they take part in outdoor activities when there are extreme temperatures, saying people should have enough water and a means to communicate when they are outdoors in secluded areas.
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