The City of Kenai Fire Department responded to a call made by a boater in distress and returned the operator to shore early Thursday morning.

According to a public release by the fire department, the call was received at approximately 10:45 p.m. Wednesday, with the boat operator calling 911 for assistance on the Kenai River by the City of Kenai Dock.

The boat had been run aground on a sandbar in the river. The operator had no injuries or immediate threats, had cell service, but had possibly damaged the outboard engine. The operator reported that there was not adequate safety equipment onboard and that there was not appropriate dress onboard for the conditions.

Kenai Fire Department Boat 1 was unable to launch immediately due to low water levels due to the outgoing tide. The fire department reported that no other commercial or personal craft were available to assist.

The rescue was scheduled for later, when tides would rise. The operator was instructed by the fire department to stay inside the vessel, out of the wind and to conserve cellphone battery.

At about 12:30 a.m., fire department personnel set out with Boat 1, leaving the dock and arriving at the distressed boat about 10 minutes later.

Boat 1 provided a life jacket to the boat operator, attached a tow line to the craft and instructed the operator to pull the anchor and assist in steering using the damaged outboard engine. Both KFD Boat 1 and the distressed boat were secured at the City of Kenai Dock at about 1 a.m.

The operator was safely returned to shore, declining treatment and reporting no injuries.