WALKER, Mich. — Search and rescue crews are working to recover the body of someone who was believed to be struggling in the Grand River Tuesday morning.
The call came in before 11:30 a.m. in the 4000 block of Butterworth Street SW near Johnson Park.
The City of Walker and Grand Rapids firefighters responded, as Walker Fire Department requested the help of dive teams from Grand Rapids, Georgetown Twp., along with Kent and Ottawa Counties.
"Those resources arrived on scene, to search the river, both north and south of the Wilson Bridge and have not located anything at this time. Our current phase right now we're going to be transitioning from a rescue into recovery operation. Once GRFP pulls off the river, the scene will be turned over to Kent County dive team for the recovery operations," said Chad Host, Walker Deputy Fire Chief.
While agencies from both Kent and Ottawa County searched the river north and south of the Wilson Avenue Bridge, the Walker Police and Grand Rapids fire drone teams searched from above.
According to fire officials, a kayaker saw a person having trouble in the water and then go under. The person was struggling and calling for help, authorities said.
Authorities said there are items along the shoreline that lead them to believe someone might be in the water.
Officials have not yet released information regarding who they are looking for and whether it is a man or a woman.
Since transitioning into a recovery effort, the Kent County Sheriff's Office dive team is now taking the lead, working with the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office dive team.
At about 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the dive teams suspended their search until Wednesday morning.
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