Canoe Trip Ends In Rescue Effort

Craig Schaffer
Two Altoona men have local firefighters to thank for a dramatic rescue effort Sunday.
Brandon Lowman and Jordan Heitkomp, both 18, were tossed into the waters of the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River after the canoe they were riding in capsized.
When Geeseytown and Duncansville crews got to the scene around 4am the two men were still in the water. A 17 year old male who had also been thrown into the river had managed to get to shore and call for help.
It appears the three men set off on their ill advised canoe trip sometime between 12 and 1am Sunday near Monastery Road. They only made it about a mile down the river before the canoe overturned.