Latest news with #FloattheRiver
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Body of boy, 5, found, search ongoing for man in Cuyahoga River after inflatable capsizes
Note: Earlier reports stated that the man and child had been on a kayak. The article has been updated to state that the two were on an inflatable flotation device. Incorrect information was provided. Rescuers confirmed that the body of a boy, 5, was found after a search along the Cuyahoga River in Cuyahoga Falls that started Saturday evening. A search is still ongoing for a man. Both were reported missing after their inflatable floatation device reportedly capsized in the river. A vehicle from the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office was on the scene at Gorge Metro Park after 10 a.m. It was joined by a second vehicle just before 11 a.m. They both left the scene at 11:02 a.m., and two Cuyahoga Falls ambulances arrived around that time. Both rescue boats came back to shore at around 10:45 a.m. Three Akron Fire Department units were on scene at just after 8 a.m. on Sunday and were still on scene as of 11 a.m. The Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department responded to a report of a man and the child in the Cuyahoga River after their inflatable apparently capsized near the Sheraton Suites on Saturday. The family was tubing on three tubes that were connected when the incident happened, according to Beacon Journal news partner News 5 Cleveland. Tubing was something they frequently did together, family members said. The family said the water was calm for a long time, but once they got near a bridge, the water got very rough and they flipped over. That's when family members say the man gave up his life to save his family. He was able to get his wife and 4-year-old son out of the water. Akron Fire Lt. Robert Langston said the city's Dive Team was dispatched to the scene around 7:50 p.m. to assist in the search and rescue. The dive team returned to the scene at 10:13 a.m., according to an Akron Beacon Journal reporter on the scene. A search by divers and crews of the area where the kayak was last seen did not result in finding the pair. Langston said the search was suspended around 9:50 p.m. on Sunday because of a "lack of visibility" in the fast-moving river as a result of storms this week. "It is reported by authorities on scene that the river is moving fast, 2,240 cubic feet per second and is 7.2 feet deep as estimated, approximately 4 to 5 feet deeper than normal," Langston said Sunday morning. "Metropark and Cuyahoga Falls Fire authorities are urging people to use caution if entering the river at any point, and stay out of fast moving currents." Float the River, which offers lazy river and kayaking excursions in Cuyahoga Falls and Zanesville, closed their operations in Cuyahoga Falls both Saturday and Sunday due to the high water levels in the river. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Body of boy found in Cuyahoga River after inflatable capsizes
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Cuyahoga River can be unpredictable; here's how to plan for a safe paddle or float
The conditions of the Cuyahoga River change constantly based on weather and time, so it's important to know how to approach the waterway safely when floating or paddling. Concern about safety were compounded last weekend death after a 5-year-old boy and his father capsized in an inflatable in Cuyahoga Falls. Additional rescues were also needed in Kent to save people from fast-moving water. The Cuyahoga River isn't maintained by the Cuyahoga Valley National Park for recreational use, meaning its conditions are ever-changing — and it's up to users to be in the know about potential safety hazards in the river before they arrive. By visiting the Cuyahoga River Water Trail's site, Plan a Safe Trip, visitors can check off important safety precautions before heading out on the water. Known hazards are listed on the Cuyahoga Valley National Park's Paddling the River page. "The first thing is: scout your route, know your capabilities and know the flow of the river," Capt. David Moore of the Kent Fire Department said. Before planning your trip, check water conditions and weather. The United States Geological Survey records water temperature and flow at three different gages on the Cuyahoga River — USGS Old Portage Gage, USGS Jaite Gage and USGS Independence Gage. By looking at the average temperature and flow of the water, visitors can determine when the water conditions are unusual and unsafe. For example, the flow of the river was recorded at 2,030 cubic feet per second June 23, but the median flow from 13 years of data is 480 cubic feet per second and the mean is 787 cubic feet second. These elevated water conditions are unsafe. Unless you are a whitewater trained and equipped kayaker, the Kent Fire Department recommends against visitors going out on the river when the water flow is over 500 cubic feet per second. Inflatables and tubes should only be used in water that is slow, safe and shallow, Moore said. Float the River, a river tubing group in Cuyahoga Falls and Zanesville, has been closed since June 15 due to unsafe river conditions, according to co-owners TJ Mack and Savannah Snyder. Float the River cancels their tubing trips when the river flow reaches around 700 or 800 cubic feet per second to keep their customers safe from hazardous water. Float the River wasn't involved in the recent deaths that occurred on the Cuyahoga. "Our hearts go out to the family and friends affected by the recent tragedy," Mack said. "This is a heartbreaking loss, and we join the community in grieving alongside them. Rivers are a place of peace and joy, but they can also become dangerous quickly." While most people hope to avoid being in the water during their paddle or raft down the river, falling in is always a possibility. High levels of bacteria, which can occur after rain due to sewer overflows and storm water runoff, can be unhealthy if ingested or exposed to cuts in the skin. Make sure to check water conditions at USGS Great Lakes NowCast. Other important factors to keep in mind before going out on the river: Weather plays a major role in river safety. Avoid any extreme weather like rain, lightning and thunder. Moving water can be very dangerous. If it looks to dangerous to swim in, don't boat in it either. When entering moving water, the American Red Cross recommends going in feet first and avoiding jumping in from heights like bridges or boats. Avoid standing in the river to prevent falls, and face downstream to keep potential hazards in your line of site. Once on the water, plan your route to ensure river access and exits are still in place and obstacles haven't fallen into your path. When you route is set, let someone know of your plan in case something happens. Alert that person when you have safely completed your trip. On the boat, wear a lifejacket at all times and maintain three points of contact with your boat. For example, while moving, keep two hands and one foot on the boat. Children under 10 are required by law to have a lifejacket of the appropiate size. If you are unsure of your life jacket, check the Coast Guard's Personal Flotation Device guidelines. Load your boat evenly to avoid tipping. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park warns visitors of hazards like swift currents, log jams and strainers. Strainers are downed trees or even branch that water can pass through. A potential drowning situation could occur if a current pulls a boat into the strainer, trapping the paddler. If you encounter a hazard, carry your boat around the obstacle. Visitors shouldn't rely on inflatables to be able to get them away from hazards like strainers, Moore said. If you are in an inflatable and see a hazard, get out of the boat and walk around the section. "That's the biggest issue right now on the rivers," Moore said. "When you're in an inflatable, you can't get away quick enough, and it's going to take you right to that danger. So it's best just to leave those for the slow summer days when it's really shallow and the river is slow." While on the water, be prepared to capsize and swim. If you end up in the water, grab the upstream side of the boat. Hold on to your boat unless your life is endangered. Be aware of your surroundings and exact location. If an accident occurs, call 911 and report your location. Reporter Julia Pentasuglio can be reached at jpentasuglio@ This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Use these tips to ensure safe use of the Cuyahoga River this summer
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Tubing company responds to public backlash following June 21 Cuyahoga River tragedy
As the Cuyahoga Falls community mourns the June 21 river incident, which resulted in the death of 5-year-old Braxton Cross and his 27-year-old father, one local company has reportedly faced public backlash for accusations of being involved in the tragic accident. "We honestly didn't want to make this post. Our hearts are heavy for the family and friends affected by the recent tragedy on the river, and we've been trying to stay focused on that," Float the River, the Cuyahoga Falls-based tube and kayak rental company said on Facebook. "But after receiving hundreds of threatening messages, comments, calls, and emails suggesting that Float the River was involved, we feel it's necessary to clarify." Braxton, his father and his mother and brother went tubing down the Cuyahoga River near the Portage Trail Bridge when the tubes they were floating on capsized. Braxton's father was able to save his mother and brother before he and his father disappeared beneath the river. Despite some thinking otherwise, Float the River did not rent out the inflatable tubes that led to Braxton and his father's deaths, the company noted. "We were not open this past weekend, at all. Nobody on the river last weekend were our customers. We had already canceled all floats ahead of time due to unsafe, high water conditions," the company wrote. "The decision to close was made before the weekend even began, not in response to the tragic events that followed." The Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department has resumed its search as of 8:30 a.m. June 24 along the Cuyahoga River near Gorge Metro Park, the City of Cuyahoga Falls said in a release. The fire department deployed a number of resources in its search for the missing father on June 24, including about 40 search and rescue personnel, three boats, two drones and assistance from both the Summit County Incident Management Assistance Team and the Salvation Army. "We are attacking the main parts where most of these incidents occur, and we are going to the areas that seem less likely, but we are checking every nook and cranny," Cuyahoga Falls firefighter Daniel Pittman said during a June 23 press conference. The dropping water level was expected to aid in the search, Pittman said. Water levels were near 8 feet on June 22 but have since dropped to 4 feet, however, "(the river) remains extremely fast-moving and dangerous," the city said June 24. "Things that were inaccessible (June 22) are absolutely accessible (June 23)," Pittman said. "We've gone further up-river (June 23) and we have located more high hazard areas since the water has gone down." River safety: Cuyahoga River can be unpredictable; here's how to plan for a safe paddle or float Braxton's body was recovered the morning of June 22. Multiple agencies have provided assistance to the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department, including Akron Fire, the Summit County Water Rescue Team, Metro Parks Rangers, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@ or on Twitter @athompsonABJ This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Float the River receives threats after Cuyahoga River tragedy
