Kalamazoo, MI:
On May 5th 2019, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety received a report of a woman whose kayak had been submerged and lodged in debris. She was currently stranded on a portion of the Kalamazoo River behind Mayor’s Riverfront Park. She was reportedly out of the water; however she was on the bank that was not accessible easily by land. The area she was in was surrounded by high walls and an abandoned train trestle.
Public Safety Officers assigned to Rescue 6 and Squad 6 were called to rescue the victim. Utilizing the Rescue Boat, the Officers were able to rescue the victim and return her to her family safely. The victim was taken downriver to meet up with the rest of her family who was also kayaking the Kalamazoo River. The victim was grateful for the rescue and had mentioned that all of her personal belongings (cell phone, wallet, and car keys) were still in the kayak that was 80% submerged.
During the beginning stages of retrieving the kayak and personal property, two citizens in canoes offered their assistance. They were able to dislodge the kayak and recover the personal property. The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety graciously thanks these two anonymous citizens for assisting in the retrieval of the victim’s personal effects and kayak.
Date: May 5, 2019
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy., Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Captain Matt Huber, Operations Division, 337-8142
By authority of: Fire Lieutenant Kenneth Skibbe
