Kayla Fortney and Jon Mills

WZZM

TWIN LAKE, Mich. — Three women have been rescued from the Muskegon River after being stranded overnight.

The Muskegon Heights women, all in their 20's, went tubing Tuesday afternoon. None of them had floated down the river before.

They entered the water around 4 p.m. at the Maple Island bridge. After getting scared, they said they spent the night on the river banks with no food or water. They said they yelled for help all night and huddled together to stay warm.

Around 6 a.m. Wednesday, they re-entered the water to search for help. Around 11 a.m. they found a fisherman with a phone. The were rescued around 12:45 p.m.

The Muskegon Township Fire Department launched a rescue boat at the ramp at the end of Holton-Duck Lake Road. The women were found on the shore just down river from the ramp.

All three women were checked out at the scene for injuries. Aside from some scratches and mosquito bites, they are OK.

Muskegon Township Deputy Fire Chief Bob Grabinski says when you go tubing, always tell your friends what time you're leaving, from where and when you'll be back.

The Dalton Township Fire Department assisted in the rescue.

Kayla Fortney and Jon Mills are reporters for WZZM.