A farmer rescued two people off an island near Bates Bridge after their raft popped Monday evening, according to the Sweet Home Fire District.
Cody Duckett and Sarah Hymel had just bought a brand new raft and were taking it for a ride that ended up much longer and later than they anticipated.
Just about a mile from farmer Kurt Clark’s house, the raft popped, leaving them stranded on an island.
“We had nowhere to go,” said Duckett. “I started yelling help as loud as I could.”
Clark heard their screams and had watched them float by about a half hour before, so he knew something was wrong.
“Time was of the essence, I could tell it in his voice and I did the best I could. I ran as fast as I could,” he said.
Clark realized he wasn’t going to be able to get to them by foot, so he went back for his canoe.
“It’s come into good use, I’ll tell you that,” Clark said.