ALBANY - A 12-year-old Milford girl was pulled unharmed from the Swift River in Albany on Monday after slipping from a rock and being swept downstream to within 150 feet of the top of Lower Falls.

At Lower Falls, the Swift River plunges 15 feet into craggy rocks and a tumult of water.

The girl, whose identity was withheld by authorities, was able to latch onto a rock and hold on against a strong current long enough for bystander, James Barnhouse of Dover, Ohio, to make his way to her.

According to police, he was able to stabilize her condition and together they made their way to safety on the other side of the river.

A witness to the rescue notified the caretaker of nearby Jigger Johnson Campground, who radioed the Carroll County Sheriff's Department for assistance. New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officer Alexander Lopashanski and Conway Fire Department personnel soon arrived to assist the stranded pair. They crossed the river on a bridge about a mile down river and used U.S. Forest Service roads to reach them. The girl was in good condition and able to walk back to a waiting vehicle.

Lopashanski said the location on the Swift River where the girl fell is a popular swimming spot, and the river water is not especially high now, but even at three to four feet, the Swift River has a great deal of force because of the steep change in elevation.

"People out enjoying the beauty of the scenery sometimes forget that the rivers and mountains can be dangerous," said Lopashanski. He urged visitors to use caution and common sense as they enjoy the natural wonders of New Hampshire.