Quesnel, B.C. – Four Cariboo families are breathing a huge sigh of relief.

This after Mounties confirmed that four young women who went tubing on the Cottonwood River on Wednesday were found “safe and sound” today.

RCMP Corporal Dan Moskaluk says the ordeal began at around 10:00 p.m. last night when the family of a 19-year-old girl reported that the girl and three other female friends, ages 20 and 21, were overdue from tubing on the Cottonwood River.

“The group were to have floated from the Cottonwood House located on the Barkerville Highway to the Cottonwood Bridge located on Highway 97, however failed to check in with family,” he says.

“Quesnel RCMP immediately attended and remained in the area throughout the night. RCMP searched the river bank areas and nearby roads in efforts to locate the girls ahead of the planned search by Quesnel Search and Rescue volunteers, which commenced at 6:00.”

He says at around 9:00 this morning the RCMP, with the assistance of RCMP Air 4 helicopter and Quesnel Search and Rescue located the four tubers along the banks of the Cottonwood River.

Moskaluk says they had become stuck on the banks due to hitting a tree in the middle of the river and being swept off their tubes.

He says search and rescue members used ropes to conduct the rescue due to the steep embankment along with a helicopter which was staged close by.

Moskaluk says crews eventually walked the women to the helicopter where they were transported to the Quesnel Airport to an awaiting ambulance. He says they suffered dehydration but were not physically injured.

In light of this incident, which he notes could have had tragic consequences, Moskaluk is reminding those heading out on the water this long weekend to think about safety first.

He says that includes being aware of the water current and conditions, wearing a lifejacket and carrying an emergency signalling device such as a whistle.