By Marc Benjamin
The Fresno Bee
FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. — Five Fresno County sheriff’s deputies were rescued Tuesday after falling into the Kings River during a swift-water training exercise.
A lieutenant, two sergeants and two deputies went into the water after a raft flipped about 12:30 p.m. near Kirch Flat on the Upper Kings River.
Three were rescued by 1:05 p.m., sheriff’s spokesman Tony Botti said.
The two that remained in the water held onto a tree until they were rescued about 1:55 p.m., Botti said.
“All of them are well-seasoned,” he said.
During the second rescue, the two deputies were in communication with rescuers on the shore, he said.
A sheriff’s helicopter assisted the rescue, Sheriff Margaret Mims said.
Cal Fire and Fresno County Emergency Medical Services helped rescue the deputies, Botti said.
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©2017 The Fresno Bee (Fresno, Calif.)