Two men from the Southtowns were rescued from the frigid fast-moving Cazenovia Creek on Sunday evening.
The pair went out for a joyride on a canoe when it suddenly overturned near rapids in West Seneca.
"This is the only section we've never been down," said Andrew Goraj, 24, of Lackawanna, one of the men rescued.
Once in the water, the two got caught in rapids that were moving in a circular motion.
"It's like a washing machine," Goraj said. "You just get stuck in it."
Volunteer firefighters from Seneca Hose Co. along with members of the West Seneca water rescue team helped to pull the men to safety.
Water levels on the creek were higher than usual due to the massive amount of rain that was dumped on the region over the weekend.
Goraj's companion, 23-year-old Patrick O'Connell of South Buffalo was taken to Erie County Medical Center for observation.
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