High Water Danger

With all of the rain Central Ohio has received in the last several days, the area rivers have swollen and some have reached out over their banks.  These rivers with high waters and fast flows attract the interest of kayakers and canoers.  However, these rivers are often underestimated and paddlers put themselves into dangerous situations.

Yesterday, a group of four kayakers put in the Alum Creek at the upper canoe access in Three Creeks Metro Parks.  Two of the four kayakers swamped there boats, one of which was separated from his group and out on his own.  He was able to hold onto a submerged log to keep his head above water and eventually fight his way through the swift current to shore.  His companions called 911 when he did not reach the take out point.  This initiated  a response from Rangers, CPD, CFD swift water rescue and CFD dive team, as well as the CPD helicopter.  Eventually the submerged kayak was found several miles downstream and rescuers feared the worst.  Happily, the man was found by patrolmen walking on the trail.

Last week, another swift water rescue was conducted on the rain swollen Big Darby Creek near Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.  A group of 9 kayakers need to be rescued from the creek when one of them tipped over and was clinging to a tree in swift water.   That woman was pulled from under the water in a log jam by fellow paddlers.  CPR was conducted until the fire department swift water rescue team arrived.  While this rescue did not occur in Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park, Rangers coordinated with, and assisted, the fire department in accessing the creek to begin rescue operations.

The Big Darby Creek, and any river for that matter, can be very dangerous during high water and swift flow rates.  Inexperienced paddlers should not attempt the trip during these types of conditions.