First responders team up to search water at James River State Park for three missing people, officials say

NELSON COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) — Personnel from numerous emergency and law enforcement agencies joined together Wednesday night to search for several people after they went missing on the water at the James River State Park.

According to the Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department, members of Appomattox and Concord Volunteer Fire Department’s Concord Appomattox Swiftwater Team (CAST) were dispatched at 10:21 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5, to help the Gladstone Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service search for three people who went missing on the water at the James River State Park.

When crews arrived on the scene, fire officials say CAST members found two people and used one boat to bring them back to shore while first responders on another boat continued to search for the third person.

However, after crews thoroughly searched the area, the department says officials decided to suspend rescue efforts until daybreak, at which time first responders returned to locate the victim.

Members of the Lovingston Volunteer Fire Department Co. 1, Virginia State Police, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, and James River State Park Police also responded to the incident, fire officials say.

“The department would like to extend its condolences to those affected by this situation,” the Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department wrote on Facebook on Thursday, Aug. 6.