Dayton crews rescue man who loses kayak in Great Miami River

UPDATE @ 10:20 p.m.

Dayton crews had to rescue a man stranded tonight on a piling under the Monument Street Bridge in the Great Miami River.

The man lost his kayak, wasn’t wearing proper safety equipment and didn’t have much knowledge of kayaking, Fred Marx, Dayton Fire Department district chief, said.

“Nobody has any business in this water without being an experienced kayaker. It’s just too dangerous right now,” Marx said, with the swift current, high water and debris.

A passerby reported the man was stranded in the area of the 600 block of West Third Street, but crews found the man under the Monument bridge.

“We put one of our boats in the water and were able to go over and get him off there fairly quickly,” he said.

It took about 20 minutes to respond to the call, launch two boats and safely bring the man ashore. The man seemed unfazed, Marx said.

The rescue happened according to Dayton Fire Department training, he said.

FIRST REPORT

Dayton crews are launching a boat to rescue a man tonight who apparently lost his kayak in the Great Miami River.

According to initial reports, the man is not in distress but requires assistance to get out. He is reportedly on an island in the middle of the river, not far from a kayak water feature.

The incident was reported in the 600 block of West Third Street.

We have a crew on the way and will update this report as we learn details.

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