Gaston County emergency crews continue to search for a missing 14-year-old along the South Fork River in Spencer Mountain Tuesday, hours after they rescued another teenager trapped on an island. Reporter Gina Esposito was at the scene along Stanly Spencer Mountain Road just before 8 a.m. and could see many firefighters and medical staff gathered on the bridge over the river.
Authorities told Channel 9 a teenage boy, not wearing any clothes, was spotted on the island and firefighters worked to figure out how to get to him safely.
Emergency management officials said they were able to communicate with the boy via a PA system and that he was not hurt.
Authorities said that around 6:30 p.m. on Monday, the teenager said he and 14-year-old Ethan Britt decided to go for a swim in the river and got separated after being swept away in the strong current.
The boy who was rescued had been stuck on the island all night until someone driving on the bridge Tuesday morning saw him waving for help.