A family outing along Vickery Creek turned into a close call Thursday when a child slipped down a steep embankment near the mill dam in Roswell and wound up stranded on the creek bank. Roswell firefighters scrambled to the scene, pulled the child to safety and had medics check for injuries. Thankfully, none were reported.
According to Appen Media, emergency dispatchers received a call that a 6-year-old had fallen into the water and could no longer be seen. Roswell Fire personnel swam across the river to reach the child and an adult on the steep embankment, then launched an inflatable rescue boat to bring the child back to the Roswell side. The outlet reports that crews used ropes and webbing to guide the rest of the family back up to the established trail system.
How crews reached the bank
As reported by WSB‑TV, firefighters determined the safest way to reach the stranded child was from the Roswell side of Vickery Creek, so they put an inflatable rescue boat in the water and worked their way over to the bank. FOX 5 Atlanta notes that the response was centered at Old Mill Park at 95 Mill Street, where crews escorted the child back to the trail, reunited the family and confirmed with medics that the child had no injuries.
Park rules and jurisdiction
The Roswell side of Vickery Creek runs into land managed as part of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, and that split between city oversight and the National Park Service can leave visitors unsure where certain rules apply. The City of Roswell has suspended water access at the Vickery Creek/Old Mill Park waterfall since August 2024, according to the city’s parks page, while the National Park Service is still pursuing access improvements for the Vickery Creek unit. Those overlapping jurisdictions help explain why rescue crews sometimes have to approach incidents from one particular side of the creek.
Officials' safety reminders
Fire officials used the rescue as a reminder that the terrain around the falls is steep, slick and unforgiving, urging hikers to stay on designated trails, keep a close eye on children near embankments and wear life jackets when in or around the water. KISS 104.1 FM and other outlets shared the department’s safety message with visitors.
Old Mill Park and the Vickery Creek trails draw big crowds in warm weather, and this incident underscores how quickly a short lapse in attention can put a young hiker in danger. If you spot someone in trouble on the trails or in the water, officials say the safest move is to call 911 right away so trained crews can take it from there.
