‘Treacherous’ currents sweep kayaker and child downstream in separate incidents in Ann Arbor

ANN ARBOR, MI – Both a kayaker and a child in an inflatable boat had to be rescued from the Huron River in simultaneous but separate incidents Saturday afternoon.

The Ann Arbor Fire Department was called around 4:40 p.m. on Saturday, July 13, after a boy in an inflatable boat became separated from his group, Fire Chief Mike Kennedy said. The 10-year-old boy and his companions had entered the river near Argo Park, 750 Longshore Drive, before becoming caught in some trees and stranded on the river bank near Nickels Drive.

Rescue workers found him and brought him back to the group, Kennedy said.

At 5:10 p.m. that same day, rescue crews were also called to rescue a kayaker stranded near the Dixboro Dam in Ann Arbor Township. The woman, in her 30s, had also entered the river with companions near Argo Park, Kennedy said. The group was to meet at Gallup Park, 3000 Fuller Road.

Related: 30 cars submerged in flood at University of Michigan garage

Instead, the woman became stranded near the Dixboro Dam, about a mile downstream. She was rescued by boat and returned to her group, Kennedy said.

No one was injured in either incident.

The river is currently “treacherous” because of leftover storms from Hurricane Beryl, Kennedy said. The storms brought seven inches of rain to some parts of Michigan, including about 10 inches in Washtenaw County, according to previous reports.

“The river is flowing incredibly high and very quickly,” Kennedy said.

Read more: Heavy rain in Michigan: The storm’s total rainfall peaks at 180 mm

Boaters and others in the water should wear life jackets, he added.

“There is no question about that given the speed and water level of the river,” Kennedy said.

The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office was involved in seven water rescues through 7 p.m. Saturday, according to Washtenaw County Sheriff’s spokesman Eugene Rush.

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