Crews rescue 2 from river

By Mark Boshnack
Staff Writer

April 28, 2008 04:00 am

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ONEONTA _ A father and son were rescued from the Susquehanna River in Oneonta on Sunday afternoon after their canoe struck a stump and overturned.

The two were ``fortunate,'' according to officials involved with the operation.

Harold Ashe, 46, of Maryland, was canoeing with this 13-year-old son, whose name was not released by state police at Oneonta, when the vessel struck the tree stump in the river, shortly after noon, and trapped the two, said Oneonta Fire Department Chief Robert Barnes.

Both Ashe and his son were treated and released, at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital, officials there said.

Reached at home Sunday evening, Ashe said he did not want to comment on what happened. But he offered "a special thank you to all of those who were there and helped."

The accident occurred near the Hannaford supermarket and the Main Street overpass, Barnes said.

"It was quite a hazardous situation to be in," because of the current, he said. A rope-rescue system was set up on both sides of the river and the two were transported to Fox at 1:14 p.m., he said.

Fire Department Capt. Thomas DiMartin said the water was about five-feet deep where the accident occurred. The two were wearing life jackets, he said.

Rescuers were able to move the canoe, allowing the teen to get free, DiMartin said. The teen held onto the stump until he was able to grab a rope and be pulled to the north shore, about 7 feet away, he said.

Ropes were attached to the father and he was pulled to the north shore after the canoe was moved out of the way, he said.

The river narrows at that spot and canoers traveling the area are urged to be careful, DiMartin said.

Helping out at the scene were a number of agencies, include state police at Oneonta, Otsego deputies and Oneonta police. Fire departments providing mutual aid included West Oneonta, Franklin and Otego fire.

Cooperstown Medical Transport was also at the scene, he said.

State police Sgt. David Segit said the two were "fortunate to be alive." Besides emergency services, a lot of "regular citizens" assisted with pulling the two to safety, he said.

The eastbound lanes of Interstate 88 were closed for about an hour during the rescue, state police said. At least two accidents, both minor, were attributed to the traffic that had to be diverted around the scene, Otsego deputies said.

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