Two teenagers who'd gone missing after rafting Saturday on the Merced River were found safely Sunday morning, the Merced County Sheriff's Department reported.

The pair, a male and a female, were located on land, just north of Henderson Park, not far from where they'd been rafting on the river, said Deputy Tom MacKenzie.

A total of four teenagers — three males and one female — had purchased two cheap rafts and had went to the river around 3 p.m. Saturday, MacKenzie said.

Two of the males floated down the river in a raft, while a male and a female used the other raft. MacKenzie said two of the males eventually ended their trip and went back to shore after noticing their raft wasn't holding enough air.

Meanwhile, the male and female continued downstream, until their raft also lost air. Around 9 p.m., however, their friends became worried and called law enforcement after they didn't turn up. Sheriff's deputies commenced their search Saturday evening, using the sheriff's helicopter, search and rescue, and the dive team.

Deputies eventually made voice contact early Sunday morning with the pair, who'd been lost after making their way to shore. The pair made their way back to the river, where they were picked up around 9 a.m. by the sheriff's dive team.

The incident is the second time in less than a month, where deputies responded to locate someone who’s gone missing on the Merced River.

— Sun-Star staff