SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Sioux Falls Fire Rescue rescued one person from the Big Sioux River Friday night.
Rescue crews were called to the river near Rotary Park about 8:20 Friday night for a report of an overturned kayak.
One person was rescued from the river with undetermined injuries.
You are reminded that there is still a lot of debris in the river from recent flooding and always wear a life jacket while on the water.
More details are available below from Sioux Falls Fire Rescue.
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At 8:20 PM on August 2nd, 2019, Sioux Falls Fire Rescue was dispatched to a report of a person in a kayak that flipped over in the water, with the kayak stuck upside down against a tree.
Sioux Falls Police spotted one individual in swift water caught against a large tree in the middle of the river. Sioux Falls Fire Rescue arrived on scene with several water rescue crews. One Sioux Falls Fire unit staged at the 18th St Bridge acting in a “safety” capacity in the event the individual was swept downstream. Two Fire personnel entered the water with a life jacket for the individual. 2 additional Fire personnel entered the water with a small boat. A 3rd SFFR crew set a safety line on the downstream side to protect both the person trapped and the responders on the scene. The rescue crew freed the individual from the debris and safely brought both the individual and their kayak back to shore.
The individual was handed over to Patient Care Logistics Ambulance. Sioux Falls Fire Rescue responded with two water rescue crews, one Engine Company, one Squad, and a command vehicle with a total of 16 personnel. The injuries to the individual are unknown at this time. There were no firefighter injuries.
Sioux Falls Fire Rescue would like to thank the Sioux Falls Police Department for their quick response and update on the situation and PCLS Ambulance.
Sioux Falls Fire Rescue would like to remind citizens there is still a large amount of debris in the water from the March storm event, to please wear personal floatation devices near the water and proceed with caution if you choose to kayak in swift currents.
