2 men rescued after motorized canoe tips over on Fox River in Elgin, Illinois
5/11/25 – Elgin, IL
This story should serve as a reminder for anyone planning to get into a boat on the water this summer to first put on a life vest. Two men in Elgin, Illinois, northwest of Chicago were wearing their flotation devices when their motorized canoe tipped over on then Fox River Sunday morning. Rescue crews pulled the men to safety in a safe area of the river so they could be helped to shore. One of the men, Charlie Daniels, said he and his friend realized they were in trouble when they felt their canoe start to sink. “It appears that the motor was a little too heavy for the boat,” Daniels said, “so when we started out — we went around and gave it some gas — the rear of the motor of the canoe went down, water started coming over the back, and then it was game over.” Paramedics checked out Daniel’s friend, who was cold after taking an icy plunge. But he was expected to be fine.
Bodies of 2 men recovered, identified after drownings reported at Joe Pool Lake
5/10/25 – Grand Prairie, TX
The bodies of two men pulled from Joe Pool Lake over the weekend were identified Monday. The Grand Prairie Fire Department said they were called at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday after witnesses reported two men fell off a boat and into the lake and didn’t resurface. The men, officials said, were not wearing life vests. The Grand Prairie Public Safety Dive Team searched the area until dark on Saturday and picked it up again on Sunday morning. The fire department said Sunday that the bodies of two men were found before noon. They were identified by the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office on Monday as 23-year-old Koby Anthony Daniels and 33-year-old Guy Duvonte Hamilton. Officials shared no further information about Daniels or Hamilton or what led to them falling off the boat. Officials with the Grand Prairie Fire Department said as lake season begins, they strongly encouraged the public to wear a life vest or an appropriate personal flotation device while near or in the water.
Sailboat rescue: Two people and their dog saved at Hagg Lake
5/10/25 – Gaston, OR
Two people and their dog were rescued Saturday evening after their sailboat capsized on Hagg Lake, according to fire officials. Gaston Rural Fire District and Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to a marine rescue call at 6:58 p.m. Saturday. Dispatchers reported a boat had capsized with at least two people in the water. Gaston fire responded with a boat and chief officer to assist the sheriff’s department. Upon arrival, responders located the boat in the middle of the lake, approximately halfway between the Eagle Point boat ramp and the dam. “The two occupants of the boat and their dog were sitting on the overturned hull waiting for assistance,” the fire district reported. Sheriff’s deputies reached the capsized vessel by boat and transported the occupants and their dog back to the boat ramp. The individuals were cold but unharmed. The rescue effort then shifted to recovering the vessel, which proved challenging due to its 25-foot mast. “Then the real work began. The craft was a sailboat with a 25′ mast which made it difficult to tow and right,” the fire district stated. “None of the personnel on scene had ever needed to right a sailboat but the owner walked us through the process and then we applied a lot of ropes and energy.” Fire officials reported no injuries to emergency personnel and minimal damage to the boat during both the accident and retrieval operation.
US Coast Guard rescue man after boat capsizes near Sunshine Skyway Bridge
5/10/25 – Clearwater, FL
A man was rescued Saturday after his 15-foot boat capsized by the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders were notified around 7:34 a.m. through a 911 transfer, USCG said. Through the 911 transfer, they were notified that the St. Petersburg Fire Rescue and Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office marine rescue crews were responding to a boater in distress. Crews rescued the boater from the water at 7:56 a.m. The man was transported to the Maximo Boat Ramp by the St. Petersburg Fire Rescue boat crew.
Seekonk firefighters rescue 2 people after canoe overturned
5/12/25 – Seekonk, MA
Seekonk firefighters rescued two canoers at Turner Reservoir Monday morning. According to the Seekonk Fire Department, crews responded to reports of two people in the water at the reservoir. Seekonk fire officials said their canoe overturned. Shortly after the rescue, crews were sent to assist with a house fire in Barrington, R.I.
Twin Cities man found dead in Boundary Waters Canoe Area
5/10/25 – Ely, MN
A canoeist from the Twin Cities is the victim of an apparent drowning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says the U.S. Forest Service located a capsized canoe Saturday afternoon on Iron Lake north of Ely. Deputies say staff discovered 62-year-old Robert James of St. Louis Park and his gear floating near the canoe. A Forest Service aircraft recovered his body. Authorities are still investigating the incident.
Person rescued after kayak overturns in TN river
5/10/25 – Columbia, TN
A person was rescued after their kayak overturned in the Duck River Saturday, according to the Maury County Fire Department. MCFD rescue crews were dispatched to the Duck River near the Highway 7 Bridge just before 1:30 p.m. Saturday for a water rescue. On scene, rescue teams found the victim stranded in the middle of the river on a sand bar in knee deep water. MCFD said the water around the sand bar was swift and deep. MCFD said the victim had been kayaking when their boat overturned. The kayaker was wearing a lifejacket but could not swim, stranding them on the sand bar. Two swimmers were sent into the water to retrieve the victim, who had begun to shake from the low water temperature. The kayaker was successfully rescued and able to walk away from the incident unharmed, MCFD said.
US Coast Guard crews rescue boaters 40 miles off Cape Canaveral
5/10/25 – Cape Canaveral, FL
The United States Coast Guard said it rescued two boaters Saturday after their boat became disabled off Florida’s Atlantic Coast. According to U.S. Coast Guard Southeast, coast guard crews were radioed for help after a sailboat became disabled approximately 40 miles off Cape Canaveral on Friday. The boat was reported overdue around the same time by a loved one when the boaters failed to check in. The Coast Guard was able to locate the vessel on Saturday and get it towed in by a commercial salvage crew. Nobody aboard the boat was injured.
Stranded boater, 2 kids rescued on Mississippi River in western Wisconsin
5/10/25 – Buffalo Co., WI
Thanks to the use of a new drone, deputies in western Wisconsin were able to find a stranded boater with two kids who were stuck on the Mississippi River. A Facebook post from the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office details the incident that began on Saturday night. Deputy Bresette reportedly found the stranded boater who had run out of gas on the Mississippi River before the arrival of a Wisconsin DNR Warden. Deputies say the Office’s drone had recently been upgraded, which allows communication through the drone. Thanks to the new communication feature, the deputy was able to reassure the boater that help was on the way. No additional information was provided.