SILOAM SPRINGS- A Memorial Day weekend camping trip for a man and woman turned into a rescue mission Sunday (May 24), after the campsite they were staying at became overrun by flood waters.
The rescue happened at Arkansas 59 Canoeing and RV Park in the late afternoon, according to owner Bill Underwood. Underwood said the people were told not to camp near the river, but decided to take the chance.
"A guy that works for me went over in a pickup and told them to follow him out right now, and they messed around a little bit too long and then when they did they got their car and pickup under water," Underwood said.
He said one of his workers jumped in a raft and saved the campers. He said no one was injured.
"He got the people out and I called a wrecker out but it was too late to get it out," Underwood said.
The owner said the Illinois river was 100 yards closer to the banks than normal. He said that's about 12 feet higher than the river typically runs. Underwood said in severe flooding situations, there's only one thing to do.
"Move everything out of here, move it to higher grounds, then when it goes down move it back," Underwood said.
Two tents, camping equipment and two vehicles wereburied in the flood waters.