Two Women Missing After Group Of 12 Sent Over Dam On Virginia River

Richmond -- Two women went missing after their floatation devices went over a 12-foot drop in the James River in Richmond, Virginia.

Ten other people from the same group were rescued following the incident.

The group of 12 were enjoying Memorial Day activities in the James River when they went over the Bosher Dam, just a few miles upriver, according to the New York Post. It is believed the group was using floatation devices on the river when the incident took place Monday at around 3 p.m.

Civilian kayakers rushed to the group’s assistance and helped rescue nine members of the group, the Richmond Fire Department said. One of the victims was able to rescue themself.

The emergency rescue crew could not locate the two missing women Monday.

“After a very thorough search today, this evening, we ceased operations this evening because of nightfall. We will start our search efforts tomorrow morning, first thing in the morning,” the fire department said, ABC 8News reported.

The department noted that rescue efforts would resume at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Richmond Fire said they are still hoping to find the women alive.

One pair of Richmond residents were part of the Monday group and shared their near-death experience with ABC 8News. The couple, Christina and Christian, said they were floating down the river in a shared intertube when their floating device flipped.

Christian said he had experienced rough conditions in the past while out in the water, but this was the first time he was sharing a tube with another person.

“We missed our exit at Reedy Creek, and we just had to keep going, we were not expecting it to be this rough,” Christina told the outlet.

The pair tried to grab onto a fallen tree branch in the water to stop themselves from floating away. Christina wound up tangled in the branches of the tree at some point.

“The current was just so strong, I had to lift my head up,” Christina said.

The two were rescued by Brian Rothell, a paddleboarder who was in the right place at the right time. He said he was out by the river with his friends when he noticed Christina and Christian in trouble.

“I paddled over on my paddleboard and I grabbed her,” Rothell told the outlet.

“Oh my God, he saved my life,” Christina added. “I thought I was going to drown.”