MONROE COUNTY, Ga. — Monroe County rescue teams responded to the Popes Ferry boat ramp after a man was stranded in the water with an alligator floating nearby, according to a Facebook post from Monroe County Emergency Services (MCES).
On Tuesday evening crews were out on the Pope Ferry boat ramp after a man, who was kayaking with his son, fell out of his kayak and couldn't get back in.
The father and son also spotted a 6-7 foot-long alligator around 75 yards from them.
Monroe County dispatch was able to pinpoint the father and son's location via cell phone ping. They then sent a picture of the location and ping to a Batt.1 cell phone so crews could find them.
However, as crews were attempting to respond, the route was blocked by a Norfolk Southern train stopped on the tracks. Once the train moved, units were able to assemble at the boat ramp and launch boat 7.
According to Norfolk Southern, they were able to move their train in under 15 minutes after they were alerted.
When rescue crews were finally able to make it to the river, they spotted the alligator but shortly after the reptile went underwater and could not be spotted again.
Crews found the father, who was wearing a life vest and floating next to his son's kayak. The post says the man was in "moderate distress" from hanging onto the side of the boat for so long.
They also found the father's unmanned kayak just north of where the pair were found.
Firefighters assisted the father and son into a rescue boat and ferried the son's kayak back to the boat ramp. They also rescued the father's kayak from the river.
Crews watched out for the return of the alligator and any other hazards but the reptile never resurfaced. The father was evaluated by medical staff and refused any further treatment.
"This situation goes to show the importance of wearing life jackets while enjoying the many waterways within Monroe County," the post said. "Had the subject not been wearing a life jacket, that situation may have had a much different and worse outcome."
They also said the rescue shows the importance of maintaining situational awareness and knowing your location on the water.
They said the whole rescue took around 30 minutes.