4 men escape rising Chattahoochee River waters

NORCROSS - Firefighters responded to a report of four people stranded on the rocks in the middle of the Chattahoochee River in Norcross when the water rose after a release from Buford Dam.

Gwinnett County fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge says four men who had been fishing Tuesday night were caught in the river. One of them said a woman on the shore tried to warn them about the rising waters, but it was too late.

Rutledge says that while crews prepared for a rescue attempt, two of the men were swept toward shore and were able to get out of the water. He says the other two were swept away moments later and were saved by Gwinnett firefighters using a back-up throw-rope after the first rope broke.

Rutledge says the water from the dam release reached Jones Bridge Park in Norcross late Tuesday.