Three individuals received assistance from Carter County Emergency Services (EMS) workers Saturday after their canoe tipped over in the Watauga River.

According to EMS Rescue Technician Craig Shaw, the trio were sailing down the Watauga River before tipping over near the Quality Plus Gas Station located across the road from Grindstaff Motors in Elizabethton. The incident took place at 6:18 p.m.

“One of them was stranded on the island behind the gas station,” Shaw said. “We were able to rescue two from the shore but we had to go out to the island for the third.”

After EMS picked up two from the shore, the third individual from the island was safely transported to the Blevins Hollow boat ramp, located just a few minutes from the accident.

County EMS worked alongside Elizabethton Police Department, Carter County Sheriff’s Office and TWRA for the operation. The scene was cleared at 7:12 p.m.