Source| Al.com

An Etowah County Rescue Squad worker has died as a result of injuries during a search for a missing kayaker in an Etowah County creek.

Coroner Michael Head said Vicky Ryan, 46, died Saturday night at Riverview Regional Medical Center.

Ryan, along with three rescue squad coworkers, was injured when two boats capsized during a search on Big Wills Creek.

Gadsden Assistant Fire Chief Robert Maltbie said a 25-year-old man was out kayaking with family members about 11:07 a.m. in Big Wills Creek near Brooke Avenue when he was swept into the water. The man went missing near an old low head dam that was once used to pump water into the Gulf States steel mill nearby, he said.

The Etowah County Rescue Squad began a search, and employed two rescue boats.

One of the boats got too close to the dam and was swept over the side. The second boat soon followed and nine Rescue Squad workers were cast into the creek. Members of the Gadsden Fire Department and the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office assisted in rescue efforts.

One other worker was taken to Riverview, and two more to Gadsden Regional Medical Center. Fire medics have still not located the missing kayaker. The search is set to continue today.