“To have dealt with what she’s dealt with, I mean God bless her. Seriously, it’s an absolute miracle for that to happen.”
That was Carl Junction Fire Chief, Joe Perkins’, reaction to 18-year-old Olivia Rogers survivng 8-hours in 60 degree water overnight.
The community is elated now that she, and 17-year-old Mason Corl, are safe and in good condition at local hospitals.
Both of their cars were swept into Turkey Creek by rushing water Monday night, just before 11, near Schifferdecker and Zora.
Corl was found after 45 minutes in the water, around 12:20 A.M.
Rogers was missing for 8 hours before her rescue Tuesday morning, just before 7 A.M.
A civilian found Rogers on an island near West Belle Terrace Lane.
Authorities say the man had gone to check on the creek’s water levels when he heard her calling for help.
She was two miles down the creek from where she originally went missing.
Chief Perkins says she was standing-up and talking when authorities arrived.
“We really honestly expected that when we’d gotten to her that she’d be a little bit hypothermic. And I’m sure she probably was but she was not in bad shape. She just wanted to be on dry land and be rescued and be safe,” says Perkins.
Perkins was there as the large group of family and friends on scene were told Rogers was found alive.
“They had found out and oh my goodness, that will stick with me forever. Just the way they reacted to it,” he said.
Rogers and Corl are both employees at KSN/KODE TV.
