NATCHEZ — The Adams County Search and Rescue team late Monday rescued two Natchez boaters stranded on the Mississippi River.

At approximately 9:50 p.m., the volunteer team was dispatched to rescue the 18- and 20-year-old occupants when they became stranded after their boat ran out of gas approximately at Giles Island and their vessel floated with the current down the river. One of the boaters dialed 911.

The two were found approximately 8 miles south of the Natchez-Adams County Port at 11:27 p.m. Rescuers towed the 16-foot boat back to the ramp at the port.

Both occupants were uninjured.

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten said the U.S. Coast Guard assisted with controlling barge traffic during the search.

Patten praised the efforts of the volunteer rescue team members for the job they did assisting the stranded boaters.

“There hasn’t been one time yet that we have called on search and rescue, and them not answer,” Patten said. “They provide an invaluable service to this community and truly deserve to be recognized for the efforts.”