Westport residents Linda Richter and Bette Low weren’t much the worse for wear after the two friends capsized their kayaks just north of the Head of Westport Monday afternoon. But it was a lesson, they joked as they stood on shore, soaked, afterwards.

“We are incredible adventurers — we do all kinds of stuff,” Richter said. “But we won’t be doing that again. I still have the taste of that water in my mouth — gross.”

The two got into trouble soon after launching their sit-on-top kayaks at the Head and venturing under the bridge north, into the wooded stream area between Gifford and Reed roads. The current was ripping a day after heavy rain flooded the region.

After a little while “I saw that my friend wasn’t behind me so I thought I should turn around and see what’s happened to her, but I got sucked into a big overhanging tree with lots of branches,” Richter said.

Her boat capsized, pinning her under the low-hanging branches of a riverside grove.

“I took in a lot of water but I held onto my boat and took out my phone from the waterproof bag and tried to call 911. It didn’t work the first five tries but I then I got through.”

Within minutes of the call, members of the fire and police departments, as well as marine services, were en route. The fire department brought its Marine 4 boat and jet ski, and police brought down the department drone to assist in the search.

Fire fighter EMTs Austin Mackay and Landon Botelho, clad in wetsuits, worked the shore and minutes after arriving were able to pluck Richter safely out of the water. Meanwhile, responders also assisted Low to shore, after she had similar problems with the strong current.

“The current was so strong,” Low said. “I got stuck under the branches of the trees, so I pulled myself back off the branches and got my kayak out of the tree. I was trying to move it around but I tipped a little bit and the water poured into the boat. so I just swum it down the river,” where rescuers awaited.

Both women were checked out and apart from getting soaked, both were fine and declined medical attention.

“It was a good ending, absolutely,” Deputy Fire Chief Mark Brisk said.

Added Richter: “If you’re going to put it in the paper, try to make us look really brave.”

— With reports by Richard W. Dionne Jr.