DELAWARE RIVER — With the abundance of rain that has hit the region recently, local rivers have seen accelerated currents and rising water levels. This is especially dangerous for boating enthusiasts on the Delaware, as eleven found out recently.

On August 4, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Ranger Richard Franke, a Liberty native was on a joint patrol with National Park Service (NPS) Rangers Dean Hill (boat captain) and Kevin Reish.

They were patrolling the river around 3 p.m. in a NPS jet boat when a call came in that two people needed help upstream.

When the rangers arrived, they found a 62-year-old woman from Lee Center, NY in the water with her foot trapped in “a river obstruction” with her head barely above the raging waters.

Her 64-year-old female friend, who was still on the raft, was struggling to keep it from capsizing in the face of strong currents.

The rangers acted quickly and Franke entered the rushing waters with his personal flotation device, throw bags, rope, and a knife along with a line attached to the National Park Service boat.

Franke was able to free the woman's foot and helped her get into her raft. Soon after, Franke tied the line to the raft and towed both people to the National Park Service's boat where they boarded safely.

“This was the first swift water rescue I've been involved in where someone was stuck in an obstruction,” said Franke. “We knew we had to free her leg soon because she was very exhausted and at risk of drowning.”

While the rangers were rescuing that party, a second call came in that another party upstream had their raft capsized and two people were swept into vegetation along the river. The rangers then helped secure those two people and brought them to safety.

“It was difficult because of fast currents and obstructions in the water,” said Franke.

Soon after that rescue, yet another call came in that seven people were trapped on a raft close by and were in imminent danger of capsizing.

Franke and his fellow rangers reacted quickly and tied the raft to a tree. They then assisted each person onto the National Park Service boat with Ranger Hill and Ranger Reish's help.

“It's important to wear a life jacket on the river and be aware of conditions, such as high water levels, before entering any river,” said Franke. “Some of the people we rescued might not have lived if they weren't wearing a life jacket.”

While Franke thought nothing of being in the raging currents for 30 minutes and putting himself in danger, he admits he couldn't have done it without NPS rangers Hill and Reish.

“It was a rewarding feeling knowing that we were able to help them,” Franke said. “The people we rescued were very thankful.”