ALLEGAN COUNTY, Mich. — Two kayakers were rescued from the Kalamazoo River Monday after their kayaks overturned near the Allegan City Dam, authorities said.
The Allegan County Sheriff's Office said central dispatch got a 911 call reporting the two kayakers in distress.
The Sheriff's Office Road Patrol and Marine Division, Allegan Twp. Fire Department and Allegan City Police Department responded to the call and found two victims clinging to a tree downstream of the Allegan City Dam.
Authorities say the currents near the dam were swift and only one of the kayakers was wearing a personal flotational device.
Patrol deputies and detectives from the sheriff's office waded into the river and used rescue lines to stabilize the victims while the Marine Division brought a watercraft downstream to the scene, the sheriff's office said.
Fire department personnel helped pull the victims from the water on board of the watercraft while other personnel entered the water with rescue suits.
The victims were safely taken to the shore and given a medical evaluation.
The Allegan County Sheriff's Office released this statement following the rescue of the kayakers:
"There has been a recent increase in incidents involving water rescues and kayaks in the Kalamazoo River - The Sheriff's Office Marine Division would like to remind the public of several important factors to consider when kayaking the Kalamazoo River.
Because the river is a natural resource and is open to the public for recreational purposes, there are many areas along the river where right bends increase water velocity preventing even the most skilled boater to adequately control their vessel or kayak. Additionally, there are very few access points along the Kalamazoo River where public safety, Sheriff or Fire personnel can deploy powered watercraft to respond to someone in need of help. Anyone venturing out onto the Kalamazoo River must take into account they do so at their own risk. Rescue personnel may not be able to get to victims in time to save them due to the lack of watercraft access points.
The most dangerous and limited access areas are between Allegan City, Plainwell and south to the county line. Novice kayakers should refrain from paddling this section of the river and seek an area to paddle where the currents are slower and rescue personnel can respond to with the right equipment.
Assisting the Sheriff's Office is the Allegan City Police, the Allegan Township FD and Life EMS."
