Mountain View Fire and Rescue/Black Diamond Fire Department firefighters and the King County Sheriff’s deputies rescued two men and two women who attempted to float on a raft down the Green River Saturday.

According to fire department spokesman Tim Perciful, the four, in their 20s, dropped the raft into the river at 6:30 p.m. near the Whitney Bridge at Southeast 218th Avenue and Southeast Green Valley Road.

They had planned on floating from Beer Bottle Beach to the Whitney Bridge, which was a portion of the river more familiar to the four.

However, King County has the beach fenced off and the four decided to begin at the Whitney Bridge. The group float downstream hoping to find a place to get off the river or take out.

While floating down the river, Perciful said the raft was punctured and sunk.

One of the four called 911 at about 9 p.m., but the cell phone either stopped working or the connection was lost. The person who called did not know the area well and told dispatch they were near Flaming Geyser Park at Southeast 354th street and Southeast Green Valley Road. The four were a considerable distance west of the park.

One marine unit began searching at Flaming Geyser Park and floated to the Whitney Bridge.

A second rescue team found the four west of the bridge at Mesker Park. After the raft sank the four were able to get to the shore and wait for help to arrive.

Percival wrote in a release, “The individuals were wet, cold, and tired. The firefighters helped the group across the river and hiked them through dense brush to the park. Nobody had to go to the hospital.”

Percival added a note of caution for people floating down the river.

“Many people are getting on the Green River to go inner tubing. People should be sure to wear a life vest any time they are on or near the river. They should also be sure to inform family and/or friends of their plan including:

• where they are going to put in, where they are going to take out and

• an estimated time off of the river, and the names of the people in your party.

“Anytime you are planning on floating on the river you should know the conditions of the river and the hazards that you may face. Rivers can be dangerous and people need to be prepared before they decide to float down a river.”