It turned out to be an uncomfortable night on the bank of the Cottonwood River for three young tubers but it could have been much worse.
RCMP say the family of a 19-year old girl reported on Wednesday night just before 10 that three other girls, 20 and 21, were overdue from tubing on the river.
Their plan was to float from Cottonwood House on the Barkerville Highway to the Cottonwood Bridge located on Highway 97.
RCMP searched the banks and nearby roads throughout the night in an effort to locate the girls ahead of the planned search by Quesnel Search and Rescue in the morning at 6.
The missing girls were then located by RCMP at 9 am thanks to the assistance of a helicopter.
Police say they had become stuck on the banks due to hitting a tree in the middle of the river and being swept off their tubes.
Search and Rescue technicians employed rope techniques to conduct the rescue due to the steep embankment.
The girls were then walked to the nearby helicopter where they were transported to the Quesnel Airport to an awaiting BC Ambulance.
The girls were medically assessed and then released as they were not physically injured despite suffering from dehydration and from slight cold.
RCMP say the girls were not equipped to spend a night in the woods as they were wearing only swim suits and flip flops and that this incident could have ended much different.
Police would like to remind the public to be aware of water current and conditions, to not risk it if the water is moving fast, to wear a life jacket and carry an emergency signalling device such as a whistle.
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