KENT, Ohio — Firefighters called Sunday to rescue 11 people who had fallen from their rafts on the Cuyahoga River ended up rescuing nearly two-dozen people and six dogs from the fast-moving water.
It was part of a dangerous weekend on the river. In Cuyahoga Falls, a 5-year-old boy died and his father was missing after their inflatable tube capsized on the Cuyahoga River.
Firefighters were called to the boat ramp on Middlebury Road at about 1:42 p.m. There were reports 11 people had fallen from their rafts were trapped by the swift current.
Boats and other rescue operations were used to pull the six children five adults from the water, the news release says.
However, while firefighters at the scene, they saw multiple other people struggling on the river while in kayaks and rafts. Several reportedly lost control and fell into the water, the news release says.
Firefighters and members of the Portage County Rescue Team spent three hours at the river, rescuing 23 people and six dogs. An additional 28 people and two dogs were helped from the river farther downstream, the news release says.
The fire department says the water level of the river currently is high because of recent rain, creating dangerously fast currents. The news release says many of the people rescued were not wearing life jackets.
“We ask that you stay on dry land and simply observe the beauty of the river during these rough conditions rather than risk danger to yourself and others,” the Kent Fire Department says in a statement. “Please stay clear of the water until conditions improve.”
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