Woman clinging to tree in Neches River rescued by Slocum emergency responders

SLOCUM, Texas (KLTV) - Emergency responders successfully conducted a water rescue Sunday morning on the Neches River. According to a report by the Slocum Volunteer Fire Department, dispatchers received a call at 7:32 a.m. Sunday about an overturned boat on the Neches River near the State Highway 294 bridge. A woman was reportedly hanging onto a tree after her boat had overturned the night before. Game Warden Danny Kessel said the woman was 59 years old, and she and her brother had put in at Hobson Bridge in a 10' aluminum boat, planning to float down to State Highway 294. At dark, the boat overturned about a mile from the 294 bridge; the two clung on to a log in the river until daylight, Kessel said. The brother then went for help. Responders from Slocum and Anderson County set out with swift water rescue teams Sunday morning. Kessel said the woman was found cold after 12 hours in the water, but in good spirits, and she was aided by EMS once brought to land. She was later taken to a local hospital for further medical evaluation.