Stranded kayaker poses rescue challenge for Dexter firefighters
Dexter firefighters recued a kayaker early this afternoon after he became stranded beneath the Central Street bridge that spans the cold and surging Huron River.
The kayaker, described as an Ann Arbor resident in his 50s, had either overturned or somehow become tangled and was pinned with his boat against a bridge support, said Dexter Area Fire Department Lieutenant Michael Grissom.
He was discovered by a passerby who heard calls for help, and the department was notified at 12:16 p.m.
The department’s six responders first threw ropes from the riverbank but were unable to connect with the man, whose reach was restricted by the pressure of the rushing water.
A subsequent attempt to drop a line from overhead also failed.
Estimating the water temperature at less than 40 degrees, Grissom said the fact that the man was properly attired in a protective suit with a life vest and helmet contributed to his survival.
“A lot of people are on the water today—it’s crazy,” he said, noting that many boaters aren’t wearing life vests and are in everyday clothes.
Firefighters requested assistance from the Scio Township Fire Department, which sent a unit downstream to the Dexter-Huron Metropark “if we did lose him,” Grissom said.
After the second rope attempt failed, the man washed off the bridge support with his kayak and floated “about 500 feet” before landing. Firefighters had been trying to rescue him for 45 minutes.
Huron Valley Ambulance personnel evaluated him at the scene for hypothermia and transported him to a local hospital.
Comments
Bill Black
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 7:42 p.m.
The article about Saturday's rescue of a kayaker on the Huron River could have mentioned some things that the readers should know. Two experienced kayakers who were not part of the group of first responders were instrumental in getting the kayaker and his boat to shore. We happened to paddle by the scene just as the kayaker and his boat floated free of the bridge support. The rope dangling efforts of the group of first responders didn't work. At that point we paddled up to the kayaker and directed him to hold onto his boat while holding the grab loop of one of our boats. We were able to tow him to shore, where the rescue team took over. The kayaker we saw was reasonably well equipped but should have had a buddy along. On that day, I think three boats in a group was a good minimum. After 40 years of kayaking I've been involved in several rescues. We were glad to help. Bill and Eric
amlive
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 1:11 p.m.
I'm really quite dismayed by some of the comments here, and like to hope that these internet armchair trolls don't accurately represent most people in our society. I was out paddling on the Huron myself yesterday, with all the precautions, PFD buckled up, plenty of experience under my belt, and choosing my routes carefully. Myself and dozens of others I saw on the river made it out just fine, but chance combined with a split second of bad judgement could have put any of us in the same situation (just like driving in the rain or on a dark snowy night). It sounds like this kayaker was no idiot, and was prepared as he could be with PFD and helmet. Still, this stuff can happen, in a kayak, on a bike, in a car. I'm very glad to hear he made it out okay, and hope there was no serious hypothermia. I took a spill in some rapids last weekend (I train and know how to take a spill, and pulled myself out just fine), but I was in and out of the water in a few minutes. 45 minutes in that water could be pretty dangerous. I'm at least glad to hear that there are at least some people still around who will come to someone's aid when in danger, regardless of whether they perceive them as having ended up there by bad judgement or not. The Huron river is a great place to paddle, and fast water like this can make for some fun runs. Everyone should take this as a reminder though, that like any sport it doesn't come without risks. Wear your life jacket, choose your routes wisely, make sure you have the right boat for the conditions, and especially in cold or high water it may be wise not to paddle alone.
Reasonable view
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 11:46 a.m.
Mr Ed, Yes, common sense is an elusive commodity. However, if the person was in the proper kayak for the conditions (I.e. whitewater play boat and not a sit on top flat water cruiser) and wearing the proper gear, he was properly equipped & enjoying a sport of which many participate. Accidents happen. According to you & a few others, everyone should plod along within your societal box. The police/fire department and rescue squad are there for, well, fire & RESCUE. If people didn't play outside, cook indoors, drive/ride any sort of vehicle, go to work, etc et al, then maybe we wouldn't need these departments. Relax. At least my tax dollar was enlisted to help someone using his off time wisely enjoying some recreational activity, rather than than building some debacle of a parking garage & city hall monument. I'd rather my $$ go towards supporting these departments that assist the public---silly endeavours and all.
BornInA2
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 4:54 a.m.
So glad all of you are such bastions of common sense. Why is it that these sorts of comments only show up when someone exercising in a non-motorized way has an incident? No one ever complains about drunk boaters getting rescued. Or people who drive like idiots and crash on icy, snowy, or wet roads. Or people who crash their dirt bikes or motorcycles. Or hunters who get lost or shoot themselves or others. Or snowmobilers. Kayaks are made for swift whitewater. And any sort of 'bad' day on the very flat Huron river is way on the tame end of the scale for kayaking. The metric for getting a rescue in this country, for anyone, is being in need of one. And count that as a good thing because karma has a way of catching up with us. I'm glad the person is okay and appreciative of the effort fire and rescue made to get to him.
Warbler
Sun, May 1, 2011 : 12:23 a.m.
Really? The Huron is running dangerously fast today. One look at the river and common sense would tell you to go ride a bike instead. I'm happy he is safe and thankful he was properly dressed in gear, but come on.... Let's respect mother Nature and next time, just go ride a bike
Tom Joad
Sat, Apr 30, 2011 : 9:46 p.m.
This is the kind of water kayaks excel at, if you know what you're doing, of course.
AfterDark
Sat, Apr 30, 2011 : 11:31 p.m.
He probably just caught a bad break and had a hydraulic pin him. I wouldn't be surprised to learn if he runs the river all the time.
Mr. Ed
Sat, Apr 30, 2011 : 9:22 p.m.
The river is way to high to safely kayak. Wait until the person gets the bill oh he won't never mind. The good public picked up the tab.
AfterDark
Sat, Apr 30, 2011 : 11:30 p.m.
The whitewater enthusiasts enjoy high water because there's enough to go play in the rapids on that section of the river. Normally it's too shallow.
haj
Sat, Apr 30, 2011 : 9:17 p.m.
Darwin missed today