A photographer from Bloomfield is credited with alerting police Sunday that two teenagers were stranded in the middle of the flooded Connecticut River.
Hartford, Conn. - A photographer from Bloomfield is credited with alerting police Sunday that two teenagers were stranded in the middle of the flooded Connecticut River, according to a published report by the Hartford Courant.
Shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday, a 12 and 14 year old were walking along the train tracks adjacent to the Connecticut River in Hartford when one of them fell into the rushing water. The second youth then went in the water for the rescue, but both ended up stranded in the middle of the river standing on a tiny patch of land comprised of a tree root, according to police.
The teens were in a remote area and the situation could have easily had a sad ending if not for the presence of photographer Cecil Gresham.
Gresham told Connecticut news outlets that he was planning on attending the UConn parade but instead decided to head out to the tracks to take some pictures.
"I was just in the right place at the right time," he told the Courant about his part in the rescue.
Hartford police and fire responded to the scene and through teamwork and technology, the teens were pulled to safety, which wasn't easy considering the high level of the river from snow melting and recent rain.
The youths were cold but alright, police said. They were treated at Connecticut Children's Medical Center and released to their families later in the day.