HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Fire Department rescued three citizens from the Arkansas River on Sunday after they were displaced from their tubes shortly after entry.

The three entered at the 4th Street river bridge. There were four people in the group. Two of them became hung up close to the east bank. The other two tubers got farther down the river before one was able to access the bank. The other person became stranded as well.

Initial contact was made by the Reno County Sheriff’s Department, however, deputies were unable to free the three from the river.

Of the three, no life jackets were present.

The Hutchinson Fire Department deployed a boat under the 96 Highway river bridge and was able to quickly access all three upstream, place them into the boat and into life jackets, then return them to shore.

All three were checked by Reno County EMS following the rescue with no injuries reported.

The fire department reminds citizens entering bodies of water to wear life jackets as this incident had the potential for a negative outcome.