KENT, Ohio — A small child and woman were rescued Saturday afternoon in what authorities are calling a “near drowning” incident in Kent.
Here’s a timeline of what happened…
A whitewater kayaker had just left the water when authorities say he heard shouts for help around 6:56 p.m. That’s when he spotted two people in the water. It’s around the same time Kent Dispatch started receiving multiple 911 calls reporting a small child and an adult woman struggling in the river just south of the Main Street bridge.
“The kayaker immediately got into his kayak and quickly found them struggling in the water at the tip of the island just downriver of the dam,” according to a post on Facebook from the Kent Fire Department. “The kayaker assisted them both from the water and started assessing the child who was showing signs of a near drowning.”
Kent police arrived within minutes as two officers made it to the island area to assist with the kayaker and those pulled from the water.
The Kent Fire Department arrived on scene around 6:59 p.m. and rescue swimmers entered the river.
“Two swimmers joined the kayaker and police officers on the island and began medically assessing both victims,” Kent fire officials explained.
A rescue boat was deployed to the island and both victims were safely removed at 7:23 p.m.
“Swift water operations, especially in this area of the area, are labor intensive and require specialized training," fire officials said. Units from the Portage County Water Rescue Team responded and played a vital role in assisting with this operation."
The child and her mother were taken to Akron Children’s Hospital by the Brimfield Fire Department. Both were conscious at the time of the rescue. Additional details on their condition were not provided.
“We commend both the kayaker and these officers for their heroic efforts,” officials with the Kent Fire Department said.
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Editor's note: Video in the player above was originally published about an unrelated fire on April 23, 2022.