July 13, 2007 - Firefighters Rescue Woman from Red River

Woman was clinging to branch in Cross Bayou

 
Shreveport firefighters rescued a woman who was clinging to branch in Cross Bayou this morning about 40 feet from the shore. The woman, identified as Re'Monica McAdoo, 37, from Lubbock, Texas, was conscious at the time but with a diminished memory. Officials believe she had been in the water for a while. 

City crews working in the area, just east of the parking garage for the new convention, heard the woman’s voice about 9:25 a.m. They later spotted her, she was faced up and holding on to the branch.
 
The Fire Department’s dive team was initially dispatched to the scene but because of the possibility of McAdoo loosing her hold and being drawn into the Red River's swift current, firefighters knew that they had to do something immediately. Two firefighters, Chuck Justice and Steve Wilkinson donned life jackets, tethered with life safety lines, and swam out to rescue McAdoo.  Once they reached her, they slipped a life jacket onto here and the crews on the shore pulled all three back to safety. 
 
McAdoo was transported to LSUHSC for further evaluation but Fire Department paramedics who said that she appeared to be in good shape considering. It is believed that McAdoo spent to entire night on the water before someone spotted her. Her only recollection to firefighters as to how she go there was that she remembers that is was dark when she went into the water.  ###