BELMONT, N.C. -- A boater is now safe after falling into the South Fork River Wednesday afternoon.

• Rescuers used ladder from fire truck to reach boater
• Officials warned boaters about debris, raging water on river
• Water temperature caused concern for hyperthermia

Charlotte rescuers arrived to the scene just before 5 p.m., and for a good while, a fire truck extended a ladder well over the river to try and secure the man. The raging floodwaters kept pushing more and more debris downstream making the rescue even more difficult.

He stayed there for nearly another 30 minutes before a rescue boat was put into the water. After navigating the raging waters, the firefighters in the rescue boat pulled him out of the water and debris.

They quickly brought him to shore with the sounds of cheers on the side.

Fishermen say what happened on the river is a good reminder that life is precious.

"When I first heard him crying for help, I thought it was my son, so I reacted like it was my son and when I saw my son was safe, nothing changed, that's still a human life out there. Just value everybody's life," said witness Cody Nickles, Sr.

This comes after a warning earlier Wednesday from the Lake Norman Marine Commission about the dangerous power of the water and debris flowing down the river. It's estimated the water temperature was about 55 degrees, which is cause for concern that hyperthermia would set in.

Waters are continuing to rise in the area. On Thursday, the water sat about four feet higher than normal and was even higher on the day of the rescue.