<H1 class=marginMidSide>UPDATE: Stranded hikers rescued by boat</H1><SPAN id=comments>
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2 <DIV class="subhead marginMidSide"><H2></H2></DIV><DIV class="articledate marginMidSide">January 21, 2010 12:56 PM</DIV><DIV id=v_player></DIV><DIV class="byline marginMidSide">
Angel McCurdy </DIV><DIV class="source marginMidSide">Daily News</DIV><DIV class="newstext marginMidSide">
2:30 p.m. - Two men who were stranded by high water while hiking on the Florida National Scenic Trail have been rescued.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission used a boat to rescue the men, according to officials on the scene.
1:30 p.m. - Two hikers remain stranded and surrounded by high water along the Florida National Scenic Trail, with a helicopter, ATVs and boats deployed to help rescue them, according to Mike Gurspan, spokesman for the Walton County Sheriff's Office.
The two men from Crestview appear to be OK, Gurspan said. One is up in a tree and the other is belowthe tree.
They began hiking yesterday and were caught by high waters that are the result ofthe heavy rainfall that has drenched the area.
"All means are being used to get them out of there,"Gurspan said.
He described the location as five to six miles west ofState Road 331 on the Eglin Reservation.
12:50 p.m. - Initial reports indicate thata section of theFlorida Trail has flooded just north of Freeport, leaving two hikers stranded and clinging to trees.
Emergency personnel are on scene trying to rescue the individuals. A water rescue team is en route to the scene.</DIV>