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Last updated on Monday, May 29, 2017
(STEUBEN CO.) - On Saturday afternoon at approximately 3:30 p.m., Steuben County Communications received a 911 call from two kayakers who had been swept under water on the Pigeon River after getting caught on a log jam in swift water.
54-year-old Dawn Desmond of Toledo Ohio was kayaking with a 14-year-old female on the Pigeon River in western Steuben County. The conditions were dangerous for watercraft as the high water level caused swift currents and unpredictable hazards. They approached a log jam that spanned completely across the river and Desmond's kayak became pinned against a log. Her kayak flipped over and she was swept under the water, surfacing downriver of the log jam.
The 14 year old female exited her kayak in attempts to help rescue Desmond and was also swept under water by the swift currents. Both were able to reach the bank of the river and climb to safety where they called 9-1-1.
Steuben County Communications was able to provide responding officers with an aerial map of where the 9-1-1 call was made. A Conservation Officer and Steuben County Sheriff's Deputy were able to locate the kayakers by land and inform the responding emergency personnel. Angola Fire Department responded by air boat and was able to transport the victims to a residence downstream where they were met by emergency personnel.
Agencies assisting Indiana Conservation Officers in the rescue were Steuben County Sheriff's Dept., Orland Police Dept., Orland Fire Dept., Angola Fire Dept., Fremont Fire Dept.
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