Women rescued as boat hangs over Longhorn Dam

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — A leisurely day on Lady Bird Lake took a dangerous turn for a group of friends Thursday afternoon.

4 women rented a small electric boat and they got too close to Longhorn Dam.

The spillway was open to keep the water level down after last weeks heavy rain and the boat didn’t have enough power to go in the opposite direction of the water flow.

The boat was hanging over the edge of the dam when the women called the boat rental company for help. But the boat they were using to rescue the women couldn’t pull the stranded boat and they got stuck as well.

Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services responded with a more powerful gas powered boat. They tossed life jackets to the women and pulled both boats away from the dam.

Police say the day could have ended in tragedy had the women gone over.

FINAL UPDATE2 water rescue 1-79 N PLEASANT VALLEY RD: Here is another look at the scene of the earlier rescue from #ATCEMS District Command 5. pic.twitter.com/RyuR7SR2QC

— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) June 10, 2021