First responders plucked a man from the cold waters of Cattaraugus Creek on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation overnight Wednesday.
The rescue occurred about 2,000 feet off of Buffalo Road along the creek's banks near the New York State Thruway overpass.
A man had been camping along the creek bed since this past weekend when high waters from recent rains isolated him on an island. A family member checked on the man late Tuesday night and alerted first responders to the situation.
"After the rains came through within the last couple of days it filled in the creek pretty well. Our water rescue team from Lake Erie Beach had to swim across the creek to get to him," said Duane Carry Moccasin, Cattaraugus Indian Reservation Fire Department 2nd Assistant Fire Chief.
"He was able to jump on the raft that was supplied to us by the Gowanda Fire Department from their water rescue team and we pulled him across," added Carry Moccasin.
The victim was taken to Lakeshore Hospital by the Reservation Fire Department to be treated for hypothermia and dehydration.
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