UMVA has learned that a Boy Scout river trip turned into a heart-stopping rescue mission on Saturday after fast-moving floodwaters trapped 28 scouts in West Virginia.
The scouts, hailing from Fairfax, Virginia, were traveling along the Cacapon River in Hampshire County on a sunny Saturday afternoon when the water suddenly intensified, forcing the troop to scramble toward the bank.
But in a flash, the boys found themselves trapped on the wrong side of the river, with no clear way to get back across. Micah Campbell, one of the scouts, recounted the terrifying ordeal, saying the troop had planned a routine river trip that quickly turned into a fight for safety.
"The current and the strength of the river turned out to be a little stronger than we thought," Campbell said, still shaken by the experience. "When some of the boys went into the river, we decided to call it off and go on shore, but then we realized we were stranded."
Jeffrey West, whose father owns a nearby cabin, sprang into action, calling rescue crews to the scene. As the situation grew more dire, watercraft eventually arrived, transporting the boys to safety.
The scouts were stranded for a harrowing 45 minutes, but fortunately, no one was injured. West, who had been looking forward to a quiet weekend at the cabin, laughed about the unexpected turn of events.
As the boys waited for transportation home, they gathered at the cabin, where they were treated to pizza and hot cocoa. But the drama wasn't over yet – strong waters had swept away much of the scout's canoeing and camping equipment.
Campbell issued a plea for help, asking if anyone comes across the lost gear – including dry bags and sealed 5-gallon buckets with clothes – to reach out to the troop.
