While on a day trip on Thursday of last week, 47-year-old Darrin Lemons and 32-year-old Ryan James, both of Fairbanks, sunk their airboat in a small isolated channel on the Tanana River.

The accident occurred late in the day and the operator of the airboat was able to text his girlfriend and apprise her of the situation.

Hoping to signal a passing boat, the two men walked approximately a quarter mile from their boat. Unable to reach the main channel of the river, the two men spent the night on the river waiting for help.

At 2:52 the next day, Alaska State Troopers recieved a call informing them of boaters in distress. Alaska Wildlife Troopers responded a short time later with a state aircraft and airboat. The sunken craft was located by air at about 5:30 pm.

Within a half an hour, the two boaters were also located by the airboat crew.

The two men were rescued. According to the report, they sustained no injuries during the incident. The men were transported to their vehicle which was parked at the Richardson Highway.