On Sunday night, there was a sense of relief as four teenagers, who had been missing for several hours on the Kahaba River, were found safe.

The Irondale Police Department reported that the teens entered the river near the Highway 78 Bridge for some tubing. However, they lost contact with their families and ended up separated, unable to reconnect. They hadn’t taken their phones with them, which left family members anxious and resulted in a significant emergency response.

The search drew assistance from various public safety agencies, including responders from Irondale, Leeds, Moody, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, and Rocky Ridge Fire Stations. Oxford Police even deployed helicopters for aerial surveillance, while drone teams from both Irondale Police and the Fire Station were brought in to aid the search.

During the operation, Highland Church’s grant factory campus made a chapel available as a place for families to gather and stay updated. The police department later expressed gratitude to the church for its support throughout the situation.

Later that evening, authorities confirmed that all four teens had been rescued. “The search and rescue efforts concluded along the Kahaba River. The students have been found and are being treated by Irondale Fire Rescue,” stated the Irondale Police Department.

The police department acknowledged the overwhelming support and highlighted the coordinated efforts that contributed to the safe return of the teens.

In a follow-up statement, they expressed their gratitude for the successful collaboration involving numerous dedicated first responders. They emphasized how the community’s support for the families of the teens was remarkable and underscored the importance of outdoor safety preparation.

“We are proud of the teamwork and quick action that led to a safe outcome,” they said.

The names of the teens have not been released, and no injuries were reported, aside from precautionary evaluations by healthcare professionals.