POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY – Two stranded canoeists were rescued on Sunday on the Kansas River.

The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office said they received report of two stranded canoeists on the Kansas River east of the Belvue Boat Ramp. The two had been attempting to return to the boat ramp but were unable to because of the hazardous conditions of the river.

The Sheriff’s Office along with Belvue Fire, Wamego City Fire, Louisville Fire, Wamego EMS, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, St. Mary’s Police Department and Pottawatomie County Emergency Management converged on the area in a rescue effort.

Personnel down stream towards the east eventually located the stranded individuals. Manhattan Fire Department’s Water Rescue (swift water rescue)was called in to assist and took the Sheriff’s Office Rescue Boat to go out on the water.
The two stranded individuals were located by the rescue boat and brought back to the boat ramp where they were treated by Pottawatomie County EMS for signs of hypothermia and were released.

This is the second rescue in two weeks on the Kansas River involving these as well as other agencies in Pottawatomie County. The other rescue also occurred late in the day on May 16th, east of the boat ramp, in St. George.

The Sheriff Office urges those using the Kansas River for recreational purposes to take into consideration the weather and river conditions. Both of these rescues involved rain, lighting and high water with debris floating in the river, making for hazardous condition for the rescuers.