Chicago police and firefighters rescued more than 60 people, including children, whose kayaks capsized when high winds hit the North Branch of the Chicago River during Sunday afternoon's storms.
The police Marine Unit and Fire Department divers were called to the river near Chicago Avenue about 12:50 p.m. and eventually helped 62 people from the water. No one was injured seriously enough to require hospitalization, but two kayak tour companies were issued municipal citations after allowing people onto the river despite weather advisories.
Two kayak tour companies, Waveriders Kayak Tours, 950 N. Kingsbury St., and Kayak Chicago, 1501 N. Magnolia Ave., were issued citations for violating restrictions on operating watercraft in hazardous conditions, police said.
"They are responsible to the people they rent the kayaks to," said Marine Unit Sgt. Eduardo Beltran. "We take this very seriously."
Near North District Officer David Ramos was the first to arrive on scene.
"The children were screaming for help," he said.
Ramos was soon joined by the Marine Unit and Fire Department rescue boats.
"It took all of us working together," said Ramos. The water conditions were " very vicious. Many people could have gotten hurt. Thank God they didn't."
They found about 30 capsized boats and pulled 62 people from the water as the wind whipped the river into waves.
"You are talking panicked people," said Beltran.
Most of the kayakers were novices, participating in two tour groups. But all were wearing life jackets.
"Personal flotation devices saved their lives. Had they not been wearing them it would have been a very difficult rescue," Deputy District Chief Ron Dorneker.
Copyright 2012 - Chicago Tribune
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
